Traetta, Tommaso (Michele Francesco Saverio) (1727–1779)

Italian composer. He was much influenced by recent innovations of French opera, in particular the tragédies lyriques of Rameau, but also continued the Metastasian tradition of opera seria. The early comic opera Buovo d'Antona (1758) and later serious works have been successfully revived in recent years.

He studied with Nicola Porpora and Francesco Durante at the Conservatorio di Santa Maria di Loreto in Naples 1738–48. He first worked as a composer of church music, but after the success of Farnace in 1751 soon established himself as an opera composer. He was maestro di cappella and singing teacher at the court of the Infante Felipe of Spain in Parma 1758–65, then director of the Conservatorio dell' Ospedaletto in Venice 1765–68. He then went to St Petersburg as music director at the court of Catherine II of Russia. He returned to Italy in 1775, visited London in 1777, and finally lived in Venice.

Works Opera over 40, including Farnace (1751), Didone abbandonata (1757), Ippolito ed Aricia (1759), I Tindaridi (1760), Le serve rivali (1766), Amore in trappola, Antigona (1772), Merope (1776), Germondo (1776), Il cavaliere errante.

Sacred and secular music oratorio Rex Salomone; Passion; Stabat Mater and other church music.

Orchestral divertimenti for four orchestras Le Quattro stagioni e il dodici mesi dell'anno; sinfonie, and other pieces.