Alessandro Stradella

For most of this Italian composer's career, time was spent in Rome where he lived independently and was fortunate to compose on commission for Queen Christina of Sweden and the Colonna family. He also wrote prologues and intermezzos for the operas of Cesti and Cavalli until he found his own voice. After a scandal in Rome, 1677, Stradella went to Genoa by way of Venice and Turin. He composed a number of operas and works for the stage as well as masses, oratorios, cantatas, arias, and instrumental works. His only opera that was a comic opera was "Il Trespolo tutore" and featured...