A biography

Salieri studied with Florian Gassmann and others in Vienna, and knew Gluck (who became his patron) and Metastasio. In 1774 he succeeded Gassmann as court composer and conductor of the Italian opera; from 1788 he was also court Kapellmeister. He made his reputation as a stage composer, writing operas for Vienna from 1768 and presenting several in Italy, 1778-80. Later he dominated Parisian opera with three works of 1784-87; Tarare (1787), his greatest success, established him as Gluck’s heir. In 1790 he gave up his duties at the Italian opera. As his style became old-fashioned his works lost favour; he composed relatively little after 1804 but remained a central and influential figure in Viennese musical life. His many pupils included Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt.