Nicola Antonio Manfroce

Nicola Antonio Manfroce (20 February 1791, in Palmi – 9 July 1813, in Naples) was an Italian composer. His first work was a cantata for Napoleon’s birthday, which was performed at the Neapolitan court on 15 August 1809. Early life and education Little is known about Manfroce’s early years. He was the son of Carmela Rapillo and Domenico Manfroce, who served as maestro di cappella (chapel master) in Cinquefrondi. Sent to Naples by his father, Nicola pursued humanistic studies at a college and soon showed exceptional musical talent. From 1804, he studied composition at the Pietà dei Turchini Conservatory under Giovanni Furno and Giacomo Tritto. Career Manfroce’s first known work was the cantata La nascita di Alcide, composed in honor of Napoleon I and performed in 1809 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples for the royal court of Joachim Murat and Caroline Bonaparte. His early successes encouraged him to move to Rome, where he perfected his counterpoint studies under Nicola Antonio Zingarelli. His first opera, Alzira, premiered in Rome in 1810 at the Teatro Valle. Hecuba and final years The celebrated impresario Domenico Barbaja commissioned Manfroce to write a new opera, the three-act