Background
Pasquale Anfossi was born on April 5, 1727, in Taggia, Liguria, Italy.
Pasquale Anfossi was born on April 5, 1727, in Taggia, Liguria, Italy.
Originally a violinist, he studied composition under Piccinni, and brought out 2 unsuccessful operas, but with his third venture, L'incognita persegnitata (Rome, 1773), won popular approval, being supported by a powerful clique hostile to Piccinni. In ungenerous rivalry with his old teacher and friend, he brought out a great number of operas. His works soon palled on the Roman palate, and he sought new fields, in Paris (1799), London (1781-1783), as director of the Italian Opera), and after that in Prague, Dresden, and Berlin. Returning to Italy in 1784, he was in 1791 made conductor at the Lateran and turned his attention to sacred composition (4 oratorios, masses, psalms, etc.). His once lauded works are now forgotten.