Life
Trained at the beginning of the Arcadia period, his artistic maturity was expressed in a context of great stylistic richness, in which Arcadian solidity merged with the elegance of the Rococo and the new ideas of the Enlightenment.
Pietro Baldassare was probably born in Rome or Brescia in an era prior to 1690. Sources do not allow for the precise determination of his place of birth but testify that he spent part of his life in Brescia, where he also became known as a singing teacher.
Aneddoto
An esteemed teacher in Brescia
In Brescia, Baldassare was remembered not only for his compositions but also for his ability in teaching singing, which trained numerous students in the city.Works
Among the compositions attributed to Pietro Baldassare is the work Il giudizio di Paride (The Judgment of Paris), which reflects the theatrical and mythological taste of the era. The work, unfortunately poorly documented in sources, testifies to his familiarity with the Italian vocal tradition.
Of notable interest is also the Sonata Number 1 in F, written for cornet, violins, and basso continuo. This piece shows Baldassare's ability to unite the concertante style with a skillful use of wind and string instruments, creating a balanced and refined sound texture.
Briciole di storia
The vices of the Italians
In the middle of the 18th century, Pietro Calepio wrote a Letter on Italian Customs which was translated into French and published in 1728 in the prestigious Bibliothèque Italique. In this text, which became very well known, Calepio did not limit himself to describing Italy in general, but clearly and sincerely denounced various vices of Italian society. Among his harshest criticisms was the poor functioning of educational institutions and, in particular, the idleness in which most of the nobility lived, considered the cause of their dissoluteness. He also denounced the low consideration given to the female role.
Pubblico dominio (Commons)
