Federico Ricci

When Federico Ricci studied at the Naples Conservatory he was a pupil of Raimondi and a pupil of his slightly older brother, Luigi as well as Bellini and Zingarelli. Of the two brothers, Luigi was considered the more original of the two while Federico was more diverse. He primarily composed light opera, at least four in collaboration with his brother, and Ricci made an occasional attempt at serious opera. Federico also composed cantatas and masses, and, when offered a position in St. Petersburg he accepted it; during this time, late in his career, he was limited to composing vocal works for his students in Russia and a series of solfeges. His operas included "La prigione di Edimburgo, 1838, which was his most successful work, "Corrado d'Altamura," 1841, his serious magnus opus, "Il marito e l'amante," 1852, and "Une folie a Rome," 1869. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi