December 17, 1749:
Domenico Cimarosa is born in Aversa, Kingdom of Naples under Spanish rule, the only child of Gennaro Cimarosa, a mason.
February 13, 1776:
Domenico Cimarosa’s (26) one-act comedies I sdegni per amore and I matrimoni in ballo are presented before King Ferdinando IV of Sicily in Teatro Nuovo, Naples. It is the first music of Cimarosa to receive a command performance.
April 27, 1777:
Domenico Cimarosa marries Costanza Suffi Palante, stepdaughter of a secretary to the Holy Roman Consul, in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Naples.
July 20, 1779:
L’infedeltà fedele, a commedia per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (29) to words of Lorenzi, is performed for the first time, at the opening of Teatro del Fondo, Naples.
November 29, 1779:
Domenico Cimarosa (29) is appointed organist for the Royal Chapel, Naples, with no salary.
December 28, 1779:
L’italiana in Londra, an intermezzo by Domenico Cimarosa (30) to words possibly by Petrosellini, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Valle, Rome, the composer directing from the harpsichord. It is a triumph.
July 10, 1780:
L’italiana in Londra becomes the first opera by Domenico Cimarosa (30) to be performed in Teatro alla Scala, Milan, the first of many.
January 2, 1781:
Il pittore parigino, an intermezzo by Domenico Cimarosa (31) to words of Petrosellini, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Valle, Rome.
February 11, 1781:
Alessandro nell’Indie, a dramma per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (31) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Argentina, Rome.
March 3, 1782:
A cantata by Domenico Cimarosa (32), Le tue parole o padre to words of Monti, is performed for the first time, under the name L’ombra, Genio ed Enrico, in the Palace of the French Academy, Rome to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin.
August 13, 1782:
L’eroe cinese, a dramma per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (32) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
October 6, 1782:
La ballerina amante, a commedia per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (32) to words of Palomba, is performed for the first time, in Teatro dei Fiorentini, Naples. It is a great success.
December 26, 1782:
La Circe, a dramma per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (33) to words of Perelli, is performed for the first time, in Teatro alla Scala, Naples.
August 13, 1783:
Oreste, a dramma per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (33) to words of Serio, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
July 10, 1784:
L’Olimpiade, a dramma per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (34) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Eretenio, Vicenza.
October 10, 1784:
I due supposti conti, ossia Lo sposo senza moglie by Domenico Cimarosa (34) to words of Anelli, is performed for the first time, in Teatro alla Scala, Milan.
December 26, 1784:
Domenico Cimarosa’s (35) dramma per musica Artaserse to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Regio, Turin.
March 28, 1785:
Domenico Cimarosa (35) is promoted to the post of second organist at the Royal Chapel, Naples. He now receives a salary.
December 7, 1786:
Le trame deluse, ossia I raggiri scoperti, a commedia per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (36) to words of Diodati, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Nuovo, Naples. It is a great success.
January 13, 1787:
A tanto amore, an aria for a production of Domenico Cimarosa’s (37) Giannina e Bernardone by Luigi Cherubini (26) is performed for the first time, in London.
July 31, 1787:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe views a performance of L’impresario in angustie by Domenico Cimarosa (37) in Rome. He is so impressed that he takes a full score in manuscript back to Weimar with him where he will translate it into German and produce it.
December 3, 1787:
Domenico Cimarosa (37) arrives in St. Petersburg to become Maestro di Cappella to the court of Yekaterina the Great. On the way from Italy, Cimarosa and his wife visited Livorno as guest of Grand Duke Leopold of Tuscany, also Parma, visiting Duchess Maria Amalia, and three weeks in Vienna, during which he was presented to Emperor Joseph II.
March 6, 1788:
La felicità inaspetata, an azione teatrale by Domenico Cimarosa (38) to words of Moretti, is performed for the first time at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg in the presence of Empress Yekaterina II. The empress “wouldn’t give you 10 sous” for it, and generally disapproves of the music of her new maestro di cappella.
July 10, 1788:
Atene edificata, a cantata by Domenico Cimarosa (38) to words of Moretti for four solo voices and chorus, is performed for the first time, at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
October 3, 1788:
La vergine del sole, a dramma serio by Domenico Cimarosa (38) to words of Moretti, is performed for the first time, at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
September 6, 1789:
Alma grande e nobil core K.578, an aria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (33) to words of Polomba, is performed for the first time, in Vienna, as part of a revival of I due baroni di Rocca Azzura by Domenico Cimarosa (39).
October 8, 1789:
La Cleopatra, a dramma serio by Domenico Cimarosa (39) to words of Moretti, is performed for the first time, at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
June 14, 1791:
The Gazette de Saint-Pétersbourg announces that “Domenico Cimarosa (41), Maestro di cappella of the court, is leaving with his wife, his two children, and his Italian servants.” Since his arrival in December 1787, he and his music have never been in favor with Empress Yekaterina.
February 7, 1792:
Il matrimonio segreto, a melodramma giocosa by Domenico Cimarosa (42) to words of Bertati after Colman and Garrick, is performed for the first time, in the Burgtheater, Vienna. It is a fabulous success. Emperor Leopold II can not attend due to the treaty concluded today, but he will attend the second performance. When he sees it, he orders the entire company to the palace for a banquet that same night, after which the work is repeated in the Emperor’s private apartments.
April 1, 1793:
Amor rende sagace, a dramma giocosa by Domenico Cimarosa (43) to words of Bertati, is performed for the first time, in the Burgtheater, Vienna.
June 19, 1793:
Domenico Cimarosa’s (43) commedia per musica I traci amanti to words of Palomba is performed for the first time, in Teatro Nuovo, Naples. It is his first opera produced in his home town since 1786.
August 26, 1794:
Le astuzie femminili, a commedia per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (44) to words of Palomba, is performed for the first time, in Teatro dei Fiorentini, Naples.
December 26, 1794:
Penelope, a dramma per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (44) to words of Diodati, is performed for the first time, in Teatro del Fondo, Naples.
February 2, 1795:
The Fourth season of the Salomon-Haydn concerts begins in King’s Theatre, London. Johann Peter Salomon has sold his operation to the Opera Concert Series. Joseph Haydn (62) now works for them. His Symphony no.102 is performed for the first time. This is one of the more glittering musical events of the decade. Music by Haydn, Jan Ladislav Dussek (34), who is also present, Domenico Cimarosa (45) and others is presented by many of the great performers of the day. At one point, several patrons leave their seats to get a better view of Haydn. Not long thereafter, a chandelier crashes to the floor where they had just been sitting. According to legend, the symphony playing at the time, Haydn’s no.96, is thereafter called “The Miracle.” Unfortunately, the accident happened during the premiere of the Symphony no.102.
November 21, 1795:
L’impegno superato, a commedia per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (45) to words of Diodati, is performed for the first time, in Teatro del Fondo, Naples.
November 8, 1796:
Domenico Cimarosa (46) is promoted to the post of First Organist at the Royal Chapel, Naples. He has served as Second Organist for the last eleven years.
December 26, 1796:
Gli Orazi ed i curiazi, a tragedia per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (47) to words of Sografi, is performed for the first time, in Teatro La Fenice, Venice.
February 8, 1797:
Achille all’assedio di Troja, a dramma per music by Domenico Cimarosa (47), is performed for the first time, at Teatro Argentina, Rome.
June 25, 1797:
Artemisia regina di Caria, a dramma serio per musica by Domenico Cimarosa (47) to words of Marchesini, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples. This is a royal commission for the wedding of Francesco Borbone, Prince of Naples to Maria Ferdinando, Archduchess of Austria. King Ferdinando, unhappy with the opera but reluctant to act against a popular composer, places the theatre director and six of his staff in prison for 24 hours.
May 19, 1799:
After the occupation of Naples by republican forces, the royal flag is ceremonially burned accompanied by Domenico Cimarosa’s (49) Inno patriottico, to words of Rossi, composed for the event. Some music is also provided by Giovanni Paisiello (59).
September 23, 1799:
Domenico Cimarosa’s (49) cantata beginning No che più lieto giorno to words of Barbarotta for three solo voices and chorus, is performed for the first time, in Naples for the return of King Ferdinando IV. The composer, a member of the republican government, is attempting to ingratiate himself with the royal family.
November 23, 1799:
The poet Luigi Rossi, who provided the words for Domenico Cimarosa’s (49) Inno patriotico, is beheaded for his part in the Parthenopean Republic.
December 9, 1799:
An arrest warrant is issued in Naples for Domenico Cimarosa (49), by order of King Ferdinando, for his part in the Parthenopean Republic. After hiding for several days, he will be arrested. He will spend four months in prison and miss a death sentence probably through the intervention of powerful friends. Upon release he will be banished from Naples.
January 11, 1801:
14:00 Domenico Cimarosa dies in Albergo della Tre Stella in the Palazzo Duodo at Campo Sant'Angelo, Venice, in the Austrian Duchy of Venice, aged 51 years, 25 days. The cause of death is probably stomach cancer, although rumor has it that he was poisoned by agents of Queen Maria Carolina of Naples. See 5 April 1801.
January 12, 1801:
A requiem mass in honor of Domenico Cimarosa takes place in Chiesa di Sant’Angelo, Venice after which his mortal remains are laid to rest in the church. The music is provided free by the Venetian musicians. (Since the demolition of the church in 1837, the exact burial place is unknown.
January 17, 1801:
Seven days after his death, Domenico Cimarosa’s dramma tragico per musica Artemisia to words of Jamejo (pseud. of Colloredo), is performed for the first time, in Teatro La Fenice, Venice. It was left unfinished at his death.
April 5, 1801:
The Venetian government publishes a medical report that asserts that Domenico Cimarosa died of cancer, not poison as has been rumored. See 11 January 1801.