Antonio Giovanni Pollarolo (12 November 1676 — 30 May 1746) was an Italiancomposer of theBaroque period, keyboardist, andmaestro di cappella atSt Mark's Basilica in Venice. As a composer he is primarily remembered for hisoperas, although his composition output also includedcantatas,oratorios, andmotets. A precursor to 19th centurybel canto opera composers likeGioachino Rossini andGaetano Donizetti, his vocal writing was written in a virtuosic manner characterized by floridcoloratura passages, widevocal range, livelytempos, andsyncopated rhythms.[1]
Born inBrescia into the Pollarolo family of musicians, Antonio's father was the opera composer and organistCarlo Francesco Pollarolo. He was trained as a musician by his father andAntonio Lotti. At the age of 13 he moved with his family to Venice when his father was appointed vicemaestro di cappella atSt Mark's Basilica. Antonio occasionally substituted for his father in this position, beginning in 1702, and later succeeded his father in the post in 1723. He later succeeded Lotti in the higher position of primo maestro at that cathedral in 1740; a post he held until his death six years later. He concurrently served as maestro di Coro at theVenice Conservatory while working at St Mark's Basilica; a post he was first elected to in 1716.[1]
Pollarolo's first opera,L’Aristeo, was staged in Venice in 1700. This was followed by the operasGriselda (1701) andDemetrio e Tolomeo (1702). After this came a period devoted mainly to sacred music, and his next opera,Nerone fatto Cesare, was not staged until 1715. His other operas includeNerone fatto Cesare (Venice, 1715),Venceslao (Venice, 1721),Cosröe (1723, Rome), andI tre voti (1724, Vienna).[1]
Pollarolo was married twice. He had three children with his first wife who died in 1709. He married a second time in 1712, and had four more children from this second relationship. He died in Venice in 1746.[1]
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