On This Day in 1872: Corfiot composer, Nikolaos Mantzaros, passed away

·

By John Voutos.

Nikolaos Chalikiopoulos Mantzaros was a Greek-Italian classical composer who left behind a plethora of compositions and an irrepressible mark on Greece’s musical history.

He was a well-respected and prominent dilettante of Western music in the 19th century, who famously composed the national anthem of Greece and Cyprus.

The Greek Herald takes a look back at his life.

Early Life and Creative Works:

Nikolaos Halikiopoulos Mantzaros was born on 26 October 1795 in Corfu, Greece, to a wealthy, aristocratic family.

Nikolaos began writing and composing in 1815 and composed the first preserved Greek opera, Don Crepuscolo (1815). He went on to study at the famous music school of San Sebastian in Naples, Italy, under Italian composer Niccolo Zingarelli. Nikolaos would develop his eccentricities and an interest in Romantic idealism here over the next four years. Mantzaros later abandoned romanticism in the 1840s to explore the “sublime.” 

The first revolt of Greece’s War of Independence would kick off a few years later and mark a transformation for Greece’s music scene. Greek musicians living in western Europe, including Mantzaros, returned home to help usher in numerous Western orchestras, choirs and musical societies. Greece’s musical scene was flourishing by the middle of the 19th century.

Some of Mantzaros’ notable works include setting music to the poems of Dionysios Solomos in the collection 16 Arie Greche (1830) and composing sacred music for the Catholic Rite around the 1820-1830s in Te Deum (1830).

Mantzaros later began teaching music in 1827, free-of-charge, before going on to form Greece’s first musical institution, the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, on 12 September 1840.

Mantzaros was the artistic director of the Society from 1841 to 1872. Among his students was well-known composer and guitarist Spyridon Xyndas.

Mantzaros was a man of firsts. He composed the first Greek opera, Don Crepuscolo (1815); the first ethnic musical collection of research, Popular cantatas of Corfu; and the first Greek piano repertoire, Sinfonia (1820). He also co-composed the first known Greek works for string quartet, Partimenti (1850); wrote the first music analysis essay, Rapporto (1851); and wrote the first music educational textbooks in Greece.

In his time, Mantzaros wrote 24 symphonies, five liturgies, pieces for piano, marches, waltzes, and songs, ranging from sacred to symphonic, opera to lyrical, and instrumental to vocal.

Legacy:

Nikolaos Mantzaros died on the 12 April 1872, in Corfu, Greece.

Nikolaos’ legacy birthed an entire generation of Greek and Italian poets, composers, and translators that shaped the music of the Ionian Islands.

The Nikolaos Museum of Music in Corfu, Greece, honours this legacy.  

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Democracy on the big screen: Youth shine at the 13th Greek Student Film Festival

13th Greek Student Film Festival - staged within Sydney's 30th Greek Film Festival - filled the cinema with laughter and plenty of Greek.

Panayiota Dimopoulos’ OXI Day artwork takes pride of place on The Greek Herald cover

Panayiota Dimopoulos from Oakleigh Grammar designed The Greek Herald’s OXI Day cover, capturing the shared history of Greece and Australia.

Greek and Cypriot leaders honour OXI Day with messages to Australia’s Greek diaspora

Greek and Cypriot politicians and diplomats have issued messages to Australia’s Greek diaspora ahead of the OXI Day celebrations.

Greek Film Festival wraps 30th year with a triumphant Sydney finale

The curtain fell on the 30th Greek Film Festival in Sydney on Sunday night with a sold-out screening of Athens Midnight Radio.

Pan Macedonian Federation of SA launches the 44th Dimitria Greek Festival

On Friday, October 24, the Pan Macedonian Federation of South Australia officially launched the 44th Dimitria Greek Festival.

You May Also Like

Sydney man Theodore Penemenos pleads guilty after drugs found in underwear

Sydney real estate agent Theodore Penemenos, 31, has pleaded guilty to drug possession and possessing suspected stolen property.

Greek Independence Day around the world looked different this year as Greeks sang from balconies and celebrated online

Although coronavirus restrictions led to the cancellation of large gatherings, Greek pride was still on display around the world as thousands sang from balconies and went online to celebrate Independence Day.

Kimberly Guilfoyle expresses ‘honour’ to serve as next US Ambassador to Greece

Kimberly Guilfoyle has expressed her gratitude after being nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next US Ambassador to Greece.