THE INFLUENCE OF ITALIAN MUSIC ON THE BORBONS KINGS COURT
The Kingdom of Naples formed part of the Crown of Aragon in the mid-15th century by King Alfonso the Magnanimous. Later it formed part of the Spanish crown with the Catholic Monarchs, with whom a great commercial and cultural relationship developed between the Iberian Peninsula and the Italian Peninsula.
After the War of the Spanish Succession and the arrival of the Bourbons in Spain, as a result of the Treaty of Utrecht, the Kingdom of Naples, also called the King of the Two Silesias, separated from the Spanish Empire, with the understanding that the King of the Spanish Crown could not also be the King of the Neapolitan Crown.
Nevertheless, the cultural relations between the two countries and both cultures continued to be strong. The court of Madrid was probably the most lavish after Paris, and logically it was seduced by its traditions
But three great historical figures ensured that the cultural relations between the Iberian Peninsula and Italy were maintained: the two wives of Philip V, Isabella of Farnese, born in Parma, Maria Luisa of Savoy, born in Turin, as well as the accession to the throne of Charles III by the sudden death of his brother Ferdinand VI. Charles III had first been king of Naples, but had to leave the place by virtue of international treaties.
To solve a problem of melancholy of the king, apparently in a state of depression, Queen Isabella of Farnese brought the castrato Farinelli from London where he seemed to be triumphing at the opera. And he stayed for 25 years organizing the musical life of the court. It would be the wife of Ferdinand VI, Barbara of Braganza who would bring to the court another of the great Italian musicians of the time: Domenico Scarlatti as harpsichordist and music teacher to the queen of the princesses.
And the last great international performer to settle in Spain was Luigi Boccherini. First as a musician for the infant Louis of Bourbon, brother of Charles III, for the Countess-Duchess of Benavente and finally with Charles IV.
The influence of Italian musicians on the Spanish court is long and very fruitful, and left a deep mark on Spanish musicians who confronted the new Italian instrumental and vocal style with the musical tradition still linked to the Baroque.
Many musicians were seduced by the new style, perhaps the best known was Pare Soler. But we also have names like Sebastià Duron, Carlos Patiño, Antonio Lliteres, José de Nebra or José de Torres.
Great musicians with a repertoire yet to be discovered and performed.
The concert on the 28th aims to begin to make part of this repertoire known. And it does so by performing works by contemporary authors from Italy and Spain. They will perform Cantadas, or cantatas, by José de Nebra and José de Torres, along with instrumental repertoire by Alessandro Scarlatti and Antonio Vivaldi. From the latter, we will perform, in addition to a Concerto per archi, one of his most well-known and expressive works, his Nisi Dominus, conducted by countertenor Oriol Roses.
ACADEMY 1830
CLASSICAL FESTIVAL 2025
MUSIC AT THE BORBONS COURT
Influence of Italian music at the Court of the Borbons
Works by J. de Nebra, J. de Torres, A. Vivaldi and D. Scarlatti
March 28, 2025. 7 PM
CHURCH OF ST. FELIP NERI. PALMA
Tickets: €15
Advance: €12
Students under 18 and retirees € 7
Students of the Professional Conservatory of Mallorca: Free
Tickets:
https://www.giglon.com/evento/musica-a-la-cort-dels-borbons