The publication of nine collections of instrumental music during his lifetime earned Tomaso Albinoni a reputation among contemporaries that rivaled that of Arcangelo Corelli and Antonio Vivaldi. Born in 1671 in Venice, he pursued an independent creative path as a composer, violinist, and playwright, operating outside the constraints of traditional church or court-salaried positions.
Professional Independence
Unlike many Baroque peers who sought secure employment at noble courts or religious institutions, Albinoni maintained financial independence as a merchant's son. His professional output began in 1694 with the dedication of his Opus 1 to Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni and the premiere of his first opera, Zenobia, regina de Palmireni. Throughout his career, he secured patronage from figures such as Charles IV, Duke of Mantua, and Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany, while directing his own operatic productions in cities across Italy and at the invitation of Maximilian II Emanuel in Munich.
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While Albinoni produced an estimated fifty operas, his enduring legacy resides in his instrumental compositions. He pioneered the use of the oboe as a solo concert instrument in Italy around 1715, notably within his Opus 7 and Opus 9 collections. His catalog includes 99 sonatas, 59 concerti, and 9 sinfonie. His compositions were significant enough to influence Johann Sebastian Bach, who used Albinoni’s themes for harmonic exercises and composed two fugues based on his work.
Loss and Attribution
Significant portions of Albinoni’s work were destroyed during the Second World War with the burning of the Dresden State Library. Consequently, details regarding his life and music following the mid-1720s remain sparse. Modern fascination with his name is often linked to the Adagio in G minor. While frequently attributed to Albinoni, the piece is largely the work of the 20th-century musicologist Remo Giazotto, though recent discoveries of manuscript fragments suggest Giazotto may have utilized original Albinoni source material.
Final Years
Albinoni married Margherita Rimondi in 1705, a ceremony witnessed by the composer Antonino Biffi. The couple had six children. Although scholars once believed he died prior to 1740 due to a posthumous publication of his sonatas in France, parish records from San Barnaba confirm he lived in Venice until his death in 1751 from diabetes mellitus. He was 79 years old at the time of his passing and was buried at St Mark's Basilica.
Fast facts
- Born: 1671, Venice
- Died: 1751, Venice
- Occupations: composer, violinist, playwright, chef de chant
- Burial site: St Mark's Basilica
- Spouse: Margherita Rimondi
- Primary musical era: Baroque
Questions readers ask
Did Albinoni write the famous Adagio in G minor?
It is largely attributed to the 20th-century musicologist Remo Giazotto, though some evidence suggests he based it on fragments of an earlier Albinoni manuscript.
What happened to the majority of his operatic scores?
Many works were lost during the Second World War when the Dresden State Library was destroyed.
Achievements
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: opera and symphony
