AKA Enrico Giuseppe Giovanni Boito

Born: 24-Feb-1842
Birthplace: Padua, Italy
Died: 10-Jun-1918
Location of death: Milan, Italy
Cause of death: unspecified
Remains: Buried, Cimitero Monumentale, Milan, Italy

Gender: Male
Religion: Roman Catholic
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Composer, Poet

Nationality: Italy
Executive summary: Mefistofele

Italian poet and musical composer, was born at Padua on the 24th of February 1842. He studied music at the Milan Conservatory, but even in those early days he devoted as much of his time to literature as to music, forecasting the divided allegiance which was to be the chief characteristic of his life's history. While at the Conservatory he wrote and composed, in collaboration with Franco Faccio, a cantata, Le Sorelle d'Italia, which was performed with success. On completing his studies Boito traveled for some years, and after his return to Italy settled down in Milan, dividing his time between journalism and music. In 1866 he fought under Giuseppe Garibaldi, and in 1868 conducted the first performance of his opera Mefistofele at the Scala Theatre in Milan. The work failed completely, and was withdrawn after a second performance. It was revived in 1875 at Bologna in a much altered and abbreviated form, when its success was beyond question. It was performed in London in 1880 with success, but in spite of frequent revivals has never succeeded in firmly establishing itself in popular favor. Boito treated the Faust legend in a spirit far more nearly akin to the conception of Goethe than is found in Charles Gounod's Faust, but in spite of many isolated beauties, his opera lacks cohesion and dramatic interest. His energies were afterward chiefly devoted to the composition of libretti, of which the principal are Otello and Falstaff, set to music by Giuseppe Verdi; La Gioconda, set by Amilcare Ponchielli; Amleto, set by Faccio; and Ero e Leandre, set by Giovanni Bottesini and Mancinelli. These works display a rare knowledge of the requirements of dramatic poetry, together with uncommon literary value. Boito also published a book of poems and a novel, L'Alfier Meno. The degree of doctor of music was conferred upon him in 1893 by Cambridge University.

    University: Milan Conservatory
    Administrator: Director, Parma Conservatory (1889-97)

Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile

Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications