Marcos António da Fonseca Portugal (24 March 1762 – 17 February 1830), known as Marcos Portugal, or Marco Portogallo, was a Portuguese-born Brazilian classical composer, who achieved great international fame for his operas.[1]
Marcos António da Fonseca Portugal was born in Lisbon. He studied music at the Patriarchal Seminary in Lisbon where, as a 14-year-old student, he wrote his first work, a Miserere. He later worked as composer and organist at the Patriarchal See, and was maestro at the Theatre of Salitre in Lisbon from c. 1784. He lived in Italy from late 1792 to 1800, possibly funded by the prince regent D. John, the later King John VI of Portugal. He wrote 21 operas for various Italian theatres. The first, I due gobbi (also known as Confusioni della Somiglianza), premiered in Florence in the spring of 1793. His version of The Marriage of Figaro, titled La pazza giornata, ovvero Il matrimonio di Figaro (The Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro), to a libretto by Gaetano Rossi, premiered in Venice in 1799. Like most theatre composers of the time, Portugal set several librettos that had proven successful for earlier operas, such as Metastasio's Demofoonte (premièred at La Scala, Milan, in 1794) and Artaserse; he set many stories that had been used before, including Serse, Alceste, Adrasto, Semiramide and Sofonisba.
Page from Portugal's manuscript of Zaira (1802)
Marcos Portugal returned to Portugal in 1800. He became maestro at the São Carlos National Theatre in Lisbon and was appointed music master at the Patriarchal Seminary in Lisbon. He continued to write operas, mainly opere serie, and a large number of religious works, until the Prince Regent summoned him to the Portuguese colony of Brazil in 1811. Upon arriving, Portugal was appointed music master to the sons and daughters of the Prince Regent and became the official Royal Composer.
He wrote mainly religious music until at least 1824, the date of his last known surviving autograph. In Portugal and Brazil, his reputation rests mainly on his religious music, a genre he cultivated throughout his life. He remained in Rio de Janeiro when the Portuguese Court returned to Portugal in 1821, and continuing in the employ of his pupil, the First Emperor of Brazil, D. Pedro, as he had previously served his father, King John VI of Portugal. He died as a Brazilian citizen in Rio de Janeiro in 1830.
In 2010, Bampton Classical Opera presented the UK première of Portugal's The Marriage of Figaro. On Site Opera produced this work's North American premiere in 2016.[2]
marcos, portugal, marcos, antónio, fonseca, portugal, march, 1762, february, 1830, known, marco, portogallo, portuguese, born, brazilian, classical, composer, achieved, great, international, fame, operas, bornmarcos, antónio, fonseca, portugal, 1762, march, 17. Marcos Antonio da Fonseca Portugal 24 March 1762 17 February 1830 known as Marcos Portugal or Marco Portogallo was a Portuguese born Brazilian classical composer who achieved great international fame for his operas 1 Marcos PortugalBornMarcos Antonio da Fonseca Portugal 1762 03 24 24 March 1762Lisbon PortugalDied17 February 1830 1830 02 17 aged 67 Rio de Janeiro BrazilOther namesMarco PortogalloOccupation s Composer organist Contents 1 Biography 2 References 3 External links 4 External linksBiography EditMarcos Antonio da Fonseca Portugal was born in Lisbon He studied music at the Patriarchal Seminary in Lisbon where as a 14 year old student he wrote his first work a Miserere He later worked as composer and organist at the Patriarchal See and was maestro at the Theatre of Salitre in Lisbon from c 1784 He lived in Italy from late 1792 to 1800 possibly funded by the prince regent D John the later King John VI of Portugal He wrote 21 operas for various Italian theatres The first I due gobbi also known as Confusioni della Somiglianza premiered in Florence in the spring of 1793 His version of The Marriage of Figaro titled La pazza giornata ovvero Il matrimonio di Figaro The Crazy Day or The Marriage of Figaro to a libretto by Gaetano Rossi premiered in Venice in 1799 Like most theatre composers of the time Portugal set several librettos that had proven successful for earlier operas such as Metastasio s Demofoonte premiered at La Scala Milan in 1794 and Artaserse he set many stories that had been used before including Serse Alceste Adrasto Semiramide and Sofonisba nbsp Page from Portugal s manuscript of Zaira 1802 Marcos Portugal returned to Portugal in 1800 He became maestro at the Sao Carlos National Theatre in Lisbon and was appointed music master at the Patriarchal Seminary in Lisbon He continued to write operas mainly opere serie and a large number of religious works until the Prince Regent summoned him to the Portuguese colony of Brazil in 1811 Upon arriving Portugal was appointed music master to the sons and daughters of the Prince Regent and became the official Royal Composer He wrote mainly religious music until at least 1824 the date of his last known surviving autograph In Portugal and Brazil his reputation rests mainly on his religious music a genre he cultivated throughout his life He remained in Rio de Janeiro when the Portuguese Court returned to Portugal in 1821 and continuing in the employ of his pupil the First Emperor of Brazil D Pedro as he had previously served his father King John VI of Portugal He died as a Brazilian citizen in Rio de Janeiro in 1830 He authored the first official national anthems of Portugal Hymno Patriotico 1809 and Brazil Hino da Independencia 1822 In 2010 Bampton Classical Opera presented the UK premiere of Portugal s The Marriage of Figaro On Site Opera produced this work s North American premiere in 2016 2 References Edit Marques Antonio Jorge PORTUGAL Marcos Antonio Caravelas Retrieved 16 December 2022 Review Following Figaro From Room to Room in a Townhouse by Anthony Tommasini The New York Times 15 June 2016External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marcos Portugal Composer s biography excerpts of Le donne cambiate it 1797 and overture to Il duca di Foix 1805 Free scores by Marcos Portugal in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki D Joao VI and Marcos Portugal The Brazilian Period by Antonio Jorge Marques MarcosPortugal com biography links Musical Manuscripts Collection at the Harry Ransom CenterExternal links EditFree scores by Marcos Portugal at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marcos Portugal amp oldid 1171935354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
