Stradella, Alessandro (1644–1682)

Italian composer, singer, and violinist. He taught singing in Venice, and wrote operas and oratorios for Rome, Modena, and Genoa. He had numerous love affairs, the last of which led to his assassination.

As he was of noble birth, Stradella was probably educated privately in music. He never held any official posts, and most of what is known of his career seems to be based on legend rather than fact, notably in Friedrich Flotow's opera Alessandro Stradella (1844), in which a composer avoids being murdered by a pair of bandits by singing to them of kindness and mercy.

Works Opera and stage the operas La forza dell' amor paterno (1678), Doriclea, Il trespolo tutore balordo (1679), Il Floridoro.

Choral motets and other church music; oratorio San Giovanni Battista (1675) and others; sacred and secular cantatas.

Other serenade Qual prodigio che io miri and others; madrigals; concerto for strings.