Compositeur (+1)

Compositeur, Arranger

Ferdinando Paër

Parma

Italy

Paris

France

Compositeur

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Ferdinando Paer (1 June 1771 – 3 May 1839) was an Italian composer renowned for his operas. He was of Austrian heritage and sometimes spelled his name as Pär when dealing with printing matters in Venice, later changing it to Paër in France.

Early Life:
Paer was born in Parma to a family of Austrian descent with a strong musical background. His grandfather, Michael Pär, was a band member in Peterwardein (now Petrovaradin, part of Novi Sad). His father, Giulio Paer, was a trumpeter in the Ducal Bodyguards and also performed at church and court events. His mother was Francesca Cutica. Ferdinando's name was given to him in honor of Duke Ferdinand of Parma by Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria. He received musical training in music theory from Gasparo Ghiretti, a student of the Conservatorio della Pietà de' Turchini in Naples.

Career:
Paer's career took off with his debut stage work, "Orphée et Euridice," premiered in 1791. His first Italian opera, "Circe," was performed during the Venice Carnival in 1792, quickly establishing his reputation in Italy. At the age of 20, he became choirmaster in Venice.

In 1797, he moved to Vienna, where he married the singer Francesca Riccardi and became the music director of the Kärntnertortheater until 1801. He enjoyed the patronage of Empress Marie Therese and composed works for her private concerts. In 1802, he became the composer for the court theatre in Dresden.

His opera "Leonora" (1804) is noteworthy, sharing a story with Beethoven's "Fidelio." Beethoven himself praised Paer's work. In 1807, Napoleon took Paer to Warsaw and Paris, where Paer composed a bridal march for Napoleon's wedding.

In 1809, he created his most famous opera, "Agnese," which gained widespread acclaim across Europe. He was later appointed as the conductor of the Opéra-Italien in Paris in 1812. In 1823, he retired and taught composition to a young Franz Liszt. In 1831, he joined the Académie des Beaux-Arts and became the conductor of the royal orchestra of King Louis Philippe in 1832.

Later Life and Legacy:
Despite his successes, Paer faced challenges in the 1820s due to the presence of Giacomo Rossini and the influence of writer Marie-Henri Beyle. He was eventually dismissed from his position at the Italian Theater of Paris in 1827.

Throughout his life, Paer held various positions in musical education institutions. In 1834, he premiered one of his last operas, "Un caprice de femme," at the Opéra-Comique. Paer passed away on May 3, 1839, in his Paris apartment at the age of 67, with his funeral held at the Church of Saint-Roch three days later.

Works:
Paer composed a total of 55 operas, following the Italian Classical styles of composers like Paisiello and Cimarosa. He also created religious compositions, cantatas, songs, and a few orchestral chamber pieces. One of his notable works is the oratorio "Il Santo Sepolcro / La Passione di Gesù Cristo" from 1803.

Honors:
Ferdinando Paer received the La Légion d'honneur on June 9, 1816.

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Ferdinando Paër / Biographie

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