Luigi Cherubini

Composer

1760 — 1842

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Benjamin Bernheim: Boulevard des Italiens

Opéra de Paris

Concert46 Min

Albums

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Karajan A-Z: Cherubini - Gounod

Herbert von Karajan

Boulevard des Italiens

Benjamin Bernheim, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Frédéric Chaslin

Cherubini: Arias & Overtures from Florence to Paris

Maria Grazia Schiavo, Musici, Carlo Ipata

French Opera Arias

Roberto Alagna, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Bertrand de Billy

Cherubini: Requiem & Marche funèbre

Corydon Singers, Matthew Best

Original 19th-Century Music for Brass

London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble, Christopher Larkin

Composer:in

1760 – 1842 Luigi Cherubini is one of the most important composers of the Classical and early Romantic periods. His work is characterised by an extraordinary compositional depth, which earned him great recognition from contemporaries such as Ludwig van Beethoven. As a bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods, he influenced generations of composers and had a lasting impact on French opera and church music in particular. Despite his Italian origins, he became famous above all in France, where he enjoyed great success and played a key role in the musical life of the time.

Childhood and musical education

Luigi Carlo Zanobi Salvadore Maria Cherubini was born in Florence on 8 September 1760. He came from a musical family — his father was a harpsichordist at the court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Cherubini received in-depth music lessons at an early age and showed exceptional talent. He completed his first studies under the guidance of Bartolomeo Felici, a respected music theorist who introduced him to compositional technique. At the age of just nine, Cherubini wrote his first pieces of music, mainly sacred works such as masses and motets. His talent was soon recognised, and he was awarded a scholarship to the renowned Conservatorio di Santa Maria di Loreto in Naples. There he studied under Giuseppe Sarti, one of the leading opera composers of the time, who strongly influenced him and had a decisive impact on his development.

Rise as an opera composer in Italy and Paris

After completing his training, Cherubini began a successful career as an opera composer. His early works were modelled on the styles of Christoph Willibald Gluck and Giovanni Paisiello. His buffa operas, i.e., comic operas, were particularly popular in Italy. However, his real breakthrough only came after he moved to Paris in 1785. France was a cultural centre of Europe at the time, and Cherubini was able to establish himself there quickly. His style was perfectly suited to the tastes of the French public, who had a preference for dramatic operas with strong characters. With the support of Marie-Antoinette, he received his first commissions and was quickly recognised as a leading opera composer. His first major masterpiece was Lodoïska (1791), a rescue opera based on a rousing plot and dramatic orchestral sounds. The opera was a great success and cemented Cherubini's reputation. His works were known for their sophisticated orchestration, intense emotions and innovative use of the orchestra.

Revolution and change: Cherubini in the Napoleonic era

The French Revolution was a challenge for many artists, but Cherubini managed to adapt to the new political circumstances. He composed numerous works in the patriotic spirit of the time, including anthems and choruses for republican celebrations. Nevertheless, he remained politically in the background and focussed on his artistic development. During Napoleon's reign, his relationship with the emperor was ambivalent. Napoleon favoured lighter, more pleasing music, while Cherubini's works were often considered too complex and gloomy. Nevertheless, he created some of his most important operas during this period, including Médée (1797), a tragédie lyrique that is considered his dramatic masterpiece. The opera tells the story of the mythical figure Medea with haunting musical depth and is now considered one of the greatest works in the history of opera. Despite Napoleon's reticence towards Cherubini's music, the composer was given prestigious positions, including the directorship of the Paris Conservatoire. In this role, he influenced a new generation of musicians and left a lasting legacy in music education.

Late work and influence on Romanticism

After the fall of Napoleon, Cherubini increasingly turned to church music. His masses, in particular the Requiem in C minor (1816), are considered masterpieces of sacred music. This Requiem was highly regarded by contemporaries - Beethoven once said that it was the only Requiem he really liked. Cherubini was a bridge builder between classical and romanticism. His compositional style was characterised by the strict form demanded by the Classical period, but also by an emotional depth and harmonic innovation that anticipated Romanticism. His admirers included Hector Berlioz, Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms, who were inspired by his works. In addition to his work as a composer, Cherubini was also a respected teacher. He taught numerous aspiring musicians, including Félix Mendelssohn, and thus influenced the next generation of composers. His theoretical writings, mainly on counterpoint and orchestration, became important foundational works.

Final years and legacy

Cherubini remained active into old age. In 1822, he became director of the Paris Conservatoire, a position he held until his death. He fundamentally reformed the teaching of music and helped to make the Conservatoire one of the leading music schools in Europe. Cherubini received numerous honours in the last years of his life. He became a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts and was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour in 1841. Nevertheless, he increasingly withdrew from public life and spent much of his time composing sacred music. Luigi Cherubini died in Paris on 15 March 1842. His death marked the end of an era, but his influence remained unbroken. Today, he is regarded as one of the most significant composers of the classical period, whose works set standards in both opera and sacred music. His legacy extends far beyond his own compositions: as a teacher, theorist, and director of the Paris Conservatoire, he left a formative influence on the musical world of the 19th century. His works are still alive today and fascinate with their extraordinary blend of precision, drama, and beauty.

A composer between the eras

Luigi Cherubini was an outstanding figure in the history of music. He combined the classical rigour of a Joseph Haydn with the dramatic expressiveness of Romanticism and influenced many later composers. His operas are among the highlights of the repertoire, and his church music continues to impress with its emotional depth. Cherubini may be lesser known compared to Wagner or Mozart, but his importance to the development of music remains undisputed. He was a master of his craft - a composer who bridged the gap between two eras and had a lasting influence on the history of music.