André Campra

André Campra was a French composer and conductor of the Baroque era who was born on 4 December 1660 in Aix-en-Provence, France. Campra served as maître de musique (music director) at the cathedrals of Arles and Toulouse before serving in a similar capacity at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris from 1694 to 1700. In 1697, he began to compose for the theatre and published some theatrical compositions under his brother's name to protect his reputation. In 1700, he gave up his post at Notre Dame and devoted himself to theatrical music with critical success.
Le Carnaval de Venise is a "comédie-lyrique" in a prologue and three acts by Campra, with libretto by Jean-François Regnard. It premiered on 20 January 1699 at the Salle du Palais-Royal in Paris, performed by the Académie royale de musique, and was later restaged in February 1711.
The opera is set in Venice during the carnival season and tells a story of love triangles, foolish old men, and an elopement in the first two acts, interwoven with Italianate slang. The third act is about Orpheus and his journey to Hades to recover Eurydice.

Recommended for Intermediate and Advanced Performers