Life
His training took place in a context dominated by the Arcadian style and the nascent gallantry of the Rococo, while his long career led him to reach maturity in an era where, alongside the Rococo style and Enlightenment thought, the new and more severe ideals of Neoclassicism were established.
Alessandro Besozzi was born in Parma on July 1, 1702, into a family of musicians destined to leave a significant mark on the European landscape. He received his first musical training in his hometown and soon showed a natural inclination for the oboe.
Aneddoto
A century of music
His life spanned almost the entire eighteenth century. Contemporaries recounted with amazement that, even in his old age, he still knew how to play the oboe with a freshness and vitality that made him seem young.Works
Alessandro Besozzi's production includes numerous sonatas for wind instruments and strings, quartets, and trios that circulated widely in European courts. These works were particularly appreciated for the cantability of the melodic lines and for the clarity of the formal structure.
Many of his compositions were published and reached Paris, London, and Vienna, contributing to the knowledge of the Italian style beyond borders. The quartets for oboe, flute, and strings enjoyed great success among amateurs and professionals, consolidating the Besozzi family's fame as a musical dynasty.
Alongside chamber works, he also wrote solo concertos, often performed in Torinese academies and at court evenings. These works testified to his technical mastery and ability to combine virtuosity with melodic taste.
Briciole di storia
The vices of the Italians
In the middle of the eighteenth 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)
