Andrea Favi

Andrea Favi was an Italian composer, organist, harpsichordist and music pedagogue. Born in Forlì in 1743, he studied at the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna. By 1765 he became organist and maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of Santa Croce in Forlì and later directed the municipal theatre and the city’s Philharmonic Academy. His output included operas-buffa (such as L’albergatore vivace premiered in 1787), sacred dramas and chamber works; his Sonata Sinfonia No. 1 for recorders and horns (1779) remains published today. He also taught keyboard and voice; his descendants formed a musical dynasty.

Favi studied composition under the distinguished theorist Giovanni Battista Martini and succeeded Ignazio Cirri in his cathedral post. His works, both sacred and theatrical, enjoyed success not only in Forlì but also in other cities of Italy. He performed widely as a harpsichordist and took part in productions of operas by composers such as Giuseppe Sarti, Giovanni Valentini, Giuseppe Gazzaniga and Domenico Cimarosa.

Among his students were the noted tenor Giuseppe Siboni and the vocal instructor Antonio Peregrino Benelli. Although many of his sacred compositions were later lost, several significant works survive, including the sacred drama Iefte premiered in 1787, the bass piece Quoniam, the two-part drama Deposizione della Croce di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo first performed the same year, the Christmas work Per la Festività del Santissimo Natale (1788), the oratorio Abigail (1789), and the Mottetto a 4 voci per la Beata Vergine (1808).

Favi married Caterina Clabacchi, and his musical lineage continued through his son Luigi and grandson Francesco. He died in Forlì in March 1822. His creative legacy comprises four operas buffa, several sacred dramatic works, and a range of church and chamber music.

Connections

This figure has 1 connection in the art history graph.