Giuseppe Aprile

Giuseppe Aprile (1732–1813) was an Italian singer and vocal pedagogue, celebrated as one of the notable representatives of the classical bel canto style. Born in Martina Franca, he was a castrato soprano and was also known during his lifetime by the names Scirolo, Sciroletto, and Scirolino, derived from the surname of his teacher Gregorio Sciroli. His artistry reflected the early bel canto tradition of the eighteenth century, characterized by emotional expressiveness, a smooth and elegant cantilena, beauty of tone, refined control, and ornate coloratura embellishments.

Aprile authored an influential vocal manual titled "The Italian School of Singing. With an Appendix of 36 Solfeggio Examples," published in 1791. The book presented the fundamental rules of singing, technical exercises for developing the voice such as scales, intervals, arpeggios, and trills, as well as practical solfeggio material. Its second part included vocalises intended for tenor or soprano, reflecting Apriled5s deep understanding of vocal technique and stylistic demands.

After receiving his first musical instruction from his father Fortunato, Aprile moved to Naples at the age of nineteen to study with Gregorio Sciroli. He made his public debut the following year in Scirolid5s opera Il barone deluso in Rome. During the 1750s he performed in Naples, where he served the royal chapel between 1752 and 1756, as well as in Turin and Rome. He appeared in major productions, including the premiere of Galuppid5s L'eroe cinese in 1753 and later the role of Rodoaldo in Ricimero re de' goti. After 1759 his career led him to Venice, Madrid, and ultimately Stuttgart, where from 1762 to 1769 he served as primo uomo and performed in numerous works by Niccolf2 Jommelli, receiving a salary equal to that of the court composer.

Despite his success, difficult working conditions in Stuttgart prompted his return to Italy in 1769, where he continued to sing on major stages. In Naples he remained associated with Jommellid5s operas and in 1783 succeeded the celebrated Caffarelli as first soprano of the royal chapel. His reputation was affirmed by contemporaries such as Charles Burney, who heard him in Naples in 1770, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who praised his unmatched voice after hearing him in Milan and Bologna. Aprile retired from public life in 1798.

In addition to his career as a performer and teacher, Aprile also devoted himself to composition. He produced a substantial number of works, especially duets and solfeggi intended for pedagogical use. As a teacher, he influenced a generation of musicians, counting among his students the renowned composer Domenico Cimarosa and the Irish tenor Michael Kelly.

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