May 9, 1740:
Giovanni Paisiello is born in Roccaforzata near Taranto in the Kingdom of Naples under Spanish rule.
June 8, 1754:
Giovanni Paisiello (14) enrolls in the Conservatorio di Sant’Onofrio a Capuano in Naples.
July 5, 1763:
Giovanni Paisiello (23) leaves the Conservatorio di Sant’Onofrio a Capuano in Naples. He will move to Bologna to become music director of a new opera company organized by D. Giuiseppe Carafa.
February 18, 1764:
La moglie in calzoni, a dramma giocoso by Giovanni Paisiello (23) to words of Palomba, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Marsigli-Rossi, Bologna.
May 12, 1764:
Il ciarlone, a dramma giocoso by Giovanni Paisiello (24) to words of Palomba, is performed for the first time, in the Teatro Marsigli-Rossi, Bologna. The work is a success.
June 24, 1764:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (24) dramma giocoso I francesi brillanti to words of Mililotti is performed for the first time, at the Teatro Marsigli-Rossi, Bologna. It is not well received.
January 26, 1765:
Madama l’umorista, a dramma giocoso by Giovanni Paisiello (24) to words after Palomba, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Rangoni, Modena.
February 11, 1765:
Le nozze di Bacco ed Arianna, a mascherata coreografica by Giovanni Paisiello (24) to a story by Biondini, is performed for the first time, in Modena.
June 30, 1767:
This is the approximate date of the first performance of Lucio Papirio Dittatore, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (27) to words of Zeno, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
January 20, 1768:
Two works by Giovanni Paisiello (27) are performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples: the dramma per musica Olimpia, to words of Trabucco, and the cantata L’Ebone, to words of Mattei.
May 31, 1768:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (28) Festa teatrale in musica to words of Basso-Bassi is performed for the first time, at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples for the wedding of King Ferdinando IV and Maria Carolina. The date could be 25 May.
September 15, 1768:
Giovanni Paisiello (28) marries Donna Cecilia Pallini in the prison of San Giacomo de’Spagnoli in Naples. She is pregnant, or is feigning pregnancy, and the Queen of Naples imprisoned the composer until he fulfilled his contract to marry her. As soon as the ceremony concludes, Paisiello is freed from imprisonment.
October 7, 1770:
Le trame per amore, a commedia per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (30) to words of Cerlone, is performed for the first time, in the Teatro Nuovo, Naples.
January 16, 1771:
Annibale in Torino, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (30) to words of Durandi, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Regio, Turin. Two visiting Germans named Leopold (51) and Wolfgang Amadeus (14) Mozart are in the audience.
December 26, 1771:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (31) dramma per musica Artaserse to words of Metastasio is performed for the first time, at the Ducal court, Modena.
January 30, 1773:
Sismano nel Mogol, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (32) to words of De Gamerra, is performed for the first time, in the Regio Ducal Teatro, Milan. Among the audience are Leopold (52) and Wolfgang Amadeus (17) Mozart.
December 26, 1773:
Alessandro nell’Indie, a dramma serio by Giovanni Paisiello (33) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, at the court of Modena.
December 4, 1774:
Il divertimento de’ numi, a scherzo rappresentativo per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (34) to words of Lorenzi, is performed for the first time, in the Royal Palace, Naples.
October 23, 1775:
Owing to its great popularity at the Teatro Nuovo, King Ferdinando IV of Naples views a performance of Giovanni Paisiello’s Socrate immaginario at the Royal Palace, by his command.
October 24, 1775:
King Ferdinando IV of Naples orders performances of Socrate immaginario by Giovanni Paisiello (35) to words of Lorenzi halted. He finds the libretto “indiscreet.”
January 3, 1776:
Le due contesse, an intermezzo by Giovanni Paisiello (35) to words of Petrosellini, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Valle, Rome.
July 12, 1776:
Count Yelaguine writes to Giovanni Paisiello (36) in Naples, offering him the post of music director of the Italian opera company of Empress Yekaterina II in St. Petersburg.
July 29, 1776:
Giovanni Paisiello (36) leaves Naples for St. Petersburg where he will take up duties as maestro di cappella to the Russian court.
January 28, 1777:
Nitteti, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (36) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, at the Russian court, St. Petersburg. It is Paisiello’s first effort in Russia and is well received.
February 6, 1778:
Achille in Sciro, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (37) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, at the Russian Court, St. Petersburg.
July 24, 1778:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (38) dramma giocoso Lo sposo burlato to words of Casti is performed for the first time, at the Russian Court, St. Petersburg.
February 14, 1779:
I filosofi immaginari, a dramma giocoso by Giovanni Paisiello (38) to words of Bertati, is performed for the first time, at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
June 24, 1779:
A second version of Demetrio, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (39) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, in Tsarskoye Selo.
November 1, 1779:
Il matrimonio inaspettato, a dramma giocoso by Giovanni Paisiello (39) to words after Chiari, is performed for the first time, in Kammeniy Ostrov, St. Petersburg.
June 5, 1780:
La finta amante, an opera buffa by Giovanni Paisiello (40), is performed for the first time, in Mogilev, Poland.
December 6, 1780:
Alcide al bivio, a festa teatrale by Giovanni Paisiello (40) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
September 10, 1781:
La serva padrona, an intermezzo by Giovanni Paisiello (41) to words of Federico, is performed for the first time, at Tsarskoye Selo, near St. Petersburg.
December 24, 1781:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (25) and Muzio Clementi (29) take part in a piano playing contest before Emperor Joseph II and Grand Duke Pavel of Russia (later Tsar Pavel I) and the Grand Duchess. They are both required to improvise and play some of their own music. The Grand Duchess then requests that they play at sight sonatas by Paisiello (41). Mozart is judged to be the winner, but not by much. It is the first time the two composers meet.
September 26, 1782:
Il barbiere di Siviglia, ovvero La precauzione inutile, a dramma giocoso by Giovanni Paisiello (42) to words after Beaumarchais, is performed for the first time, at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
March 23, 1783:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27) gives a benefit concert for himself before an overflow crowd, including Emperor Joseph II, in the Burgtheater, Vienna. The program includes the Symphony K.385, an aria from Idomeneo, Piano Concerto K.415, the concert aria Misera! dove son...Ah! non son io (to words of Metastasio) K.369, movements three and four from the Serenade in D K.320, Piano Concerto K.369 including the rondo-finale K.382, an aria from Lucio Silla, improvised variations on a theme of Paisiello (42) K.398 (encored), improvised variations on a theme of Gluck K.455, and the Recitative and Rondo K.416. Among the audience is Christoph Willibald Gluck (68). It is a gigantic success.
August 16, 1783:
The Committee for the Direction of Imperial Theatres, St. Petersburg names Giovanni Paisiello (43) as inspector of opera.
August 19, 1783:
The Committee for the Direction of Imperial Theatres, St. Petersburg names Giovanni Paisiello (43) inspector of opera buffa. Because neither this appointment nor the one of 16 August brings with it a salary, Paisiello refuses both.
October 5, 1783:
Il mondo della luna, a festa teatrale comica by Giovanni Paisiello (43) to words of Goldoni, is performed for the first time, commissioned by Empress Yekaterina II for the opening of the new Bolshoy Theatre, St. Petersburg.
December 9, 1783:
Giovanni Paisiello (43) is nominated compositore della musica de’ drammi by King Ferdinando IV of Naples. The composer is presently in Russia but conducted an extensive campaign through friends to gain the position.
December 19, 1783:
Empress Yekaterina II of Russia grants Giovanni Paisiello (43) a one-year leave of absence.
February 5, 1784:
Giovanni Paisiello (43) and his wife depart St. Petersburg. They probably do not intend to return.
May 1, 1784:
Giovanni Paisiello (43) arrives in Vienna from St. Petersburg. Within a week, he will have an audience with Emperor Joseph II who will commission an opera from him. See 23 August 1784.
June 10, 1784:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (28) brings Giovanni Paisiello (44) to hear one of his Academy Concerts in Vienna. It is a great success.
June 13, 1784:
The Concerto for piano and orchestra no.17 K.453 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (28) is performed for the first time, at the home of Gottfried Ignaz von Ployer, in Döbling. He is the Salzburg agent in Vienna and a relative of the pianist for whom Mozart wrote the concerto, Barbara Ployer. Attending at the composer’s invitation is Giovanni Paisiello (44) on his way to Naples from Russia.
August 23, 1784:
Il re Teodoro in Venezia, a dramma eroicomico by Giovanni Paisiello (44) to words of Casti, is performed for the first time, in the Vienna Burgtheater. The work, commissioned by Emperor Joseph II, is very successful. In the audience is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (28), returning Paisiello’s courtesy of 13 June. The opera, especially the libretto, strikes Mozart “like a bolt of lightning.” (Kneppler, 110)
January 1, 1785:
The Russian Committee of Theatres terminates the contract of Giovanni Paisiello (44). His leave of absence ends today. The composer is presently in Italy.
January 12, 1785:
Antigono, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (44) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples, to celebrate the birthday of King Ferdinando IV. In the wake of this success, Paisiello will approach the King for a regular stipend.
March 7, 1785:
Giovanni Paisiello (44) is informed that King Ferdinando IV of Naples has awarded him an annual stipend of 1,200 ducats for the rest of his life in return for one opera per year for Teatro San Carlo and other occasional music.
October 6, 1785:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (45) cantata Il ritorno di Perseo, to words of Serio, is performed for the first time, at the Accademia degli Amici, Naples.
January 20, 1786:
Olimpiade, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (45) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, at Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
June 30, 1786:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (46) favola boschereccia Amore vendicato to words of di Gennaro is performed for the first time, at the Accademia dei Cavalieri, Naples.
January 12, 1787:
Pirro, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (46) to words of de Gamerra is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
May 5, 1787:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (46) Cantata fatta in occasione della translazione del sangue di San Gennaro, to words of Marchese di Gatalone, is performed for the first time, in Naples.
September 8, 1787:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (47) componimento drammatico Giunone Lucina, to words of Sernicola, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
October 29, 1787:
Giovanni Paisiello (47) is appointed maestro della real camera for the Neapolitan court.
January 1, 1788:
Fedra, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (47) to words of Salvioni after Frugoni, is performed for the first time, at Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
February 5, 1789:
Catone in Utica, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (48) to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
February 11, 1789:
A Requiem in c minor by Giovanni Paisiello (48) is performed for the first time, in Naples.
June 25, 1789:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (49) commedia in prose ed in verso per musica Nina, o sia La pazza per amore to words of Carpani after Mersollier des Vivetières, is performed for the first time, at Teatro San Leucio, Caserta.
October 31, 1789:
Several arias and a chorus by Luigi Cherubini (29) are performed for the first time, in a production of Giovanni Paisiello’s (49) La molinarella, in the Théâtre de Monsieur, Paris.
November 21, 1789:
I zingari in fiera, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (49) to words of Palomba, is performed for the first time, in Teatro del Fondo di Separazione, Naples.
May 30, 1790:
Zenobia in Palmira, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (50) to words of Sertor, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
June 3, 1790:
Cantata per la sollenità del SS Corpo di Cristo by Giovanni Paisiello (50) is performed for the first time, in Naples.
August 17, 1790:
Il genio poetico appagato, a cantata by Giovanni Paisiello (50) to words of Pagliuca is performed for the first time, in San Ferdinando, Naples.
October 30, 1790:
King Ferdinando of Naples orders that Giovanni Paisiello (50) continue to receive his pension without the requirement of an annual opera.
April 7, 1791:
Two pieces for Giovanni Paisiello’s (50) Il tamburo notturno by Luigi Cherubini (30) are performed for the first time, in Théâtre De Monsieur, Paris.
May 6, 1791:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (50) Cantata epitalamica is performed for the first time, in Florence.
June 16, 1791:
La locanda, a dramma giocoso by Giovanni Paisiello (51) to words of Tonioli after Bertoni, is performed for the first time, in the King’s Theatre, Pantheon, London.
May 16, 1792:
I giuochi d’Agrigento, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (52) to words of Pepoli, is performed for the first time, in Teatro La Fenice, Venice.
November 4, 1792:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (52) tragedia per music Elfrida to words of Calzibigi is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
May 4, 1793:
Cantata per la transalazione del sangue del glorioso martire S Gennaro by Giovanni Paisiello (52) to words of Pagliuca is performed for the first time, in Naples.
January 12, 1794:
Elvira, a tragedia per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (53) to words of Calzabigi, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
June 10, 1794:
A performance of Giovanni Paisiello’s (54) La Frascatana in London is interrupted with the news of the victory of 1 June. The orchestra thereupon repeatedly plays Arne’s (†16) Rule Britannia.
November 4, 1794:
Giovanni Paisiello’s (54) dramma per musica Didone abbandonata to words of Metastasio is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
June 25, 1797:
La Daunia felice, a festa teatrale by Giovanni Paisiello (57) to words of Massari, is performed for the first time, at the Palazzo Dogana, Foggia.
November 18, 1797:
Andromaca, a dramma per musica by Giovanni Paisiello (57), is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
May 4, 1799:
Giovanni Paisiello (58) is appointed direttore di cappella nazionale to the Parthenopaean Republic in Naples. He will later claim that he does not want the post.
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).
May 23, 1799:
Giovanni Paisiello (59) conducts music at a religious service in Naples attended by members of the republican government.
July 8, 1799:
King Ferdinando IV returns to Naples and institutes a course of executions, imprisonments, exiles and a stripping of rank against members of the republic. Giovanni Paisiello (59) is removed as royal maestro di camera and his annual stipend from the king is ended.
July 7, 1801:
Giovanni Paisiello (61) is granted a full pardon for any part he may have played in the Parthenopaean Republic. He is reinstated to his former court posts by the King of Naples.
April 25, 1802:
Giovanni Paisiello (61) arrives in Paris, having been summoned by Napoléon.
May 5, 1802:
Giovanni Paisiello (61) is introduced to First Consul Napoléon in Paris. In the evening he attends a performance of his own Zingari in fiera. He is recognized and applauded vociferously. The composer thereupon is invited to spend the third act in Napoléon’s box and the two apparently begin a very amicable relationship.
July 20, 1802:
Services begin in the new chapel created by First Consul Napoléon Bonaparte in the Tuileries Palace. The musical director is Giovanni Paisiello (62).
September 25, 1802:
Napoléon orders Giovanni Paisiello (62) to direct the music of the mass in the First Consul’s chapel every Sunday.
March 29, 1803:
Proserpine, a tragédie lyrique by Giovanni Paisiello (62) to words of Guillard after Quinault, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra. It is not well received.
February 20, 1804:
Giovanni Paisiello (63), resident in Paris, receives notification from the Regio Senato of Naples that he is named Maestro di Cappella.
April 10, 1804:
About this date, Giovanni Paisiello (63) obtains release as maître de chappelle to Napoléon.
August 29, 1804:
Giovanni Paisiello (64) departs Paris for Naples. He would have left earlier but Napoléon required that Paisiello compose a mass for the imperial coronation.
September 7, 1804:
King Ferdinando IV of Naples orders the suspension of salary to Giovanni Paisiello (64) since he does not know when the composer will return from Paris.
June 13, 1805:
Il fonte prodigioso di Orebbe, a cantata by Giovanni Paisiello (65) to words of Rota, is performed for the first time, in Piazza del Pendio, Naples.
July 18, 1806:
Giovanni Paisiello (66) is created a member of the French Legion of Honor by Emperor Napoléon.
March 19, 1807:
An epilogue for Simon Mayr’s (43) farsa Elisa by Giovanni Paisiello (66) is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples, for the name day of King Giuseppe Napoleone (Joseph Bonaparte).
March 19, 1808:
I pittagorici, a dramma by Giovanni Paisiello (67) to words of Monti, is performed for the first time, at Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
July 31, 1808:
Emperor Napoléon grants Giovanni Paisiello (68) an annual pension of 1,000 francs, retroactive to 23 September 1804.
August 15, 1808:
A Mass in D by Giovanni Paisiello (68) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
August 15, 1809:
A Mass in G by Giovanni Paisiello (69) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
December 30, 1809:
Giovanni Paisiello (69) is nominated as one of the eight “associés étrangers” of the Fine Arts section of the French Imperial Institute.
June 9, 1811:
A Componimento sagro musicale by Giovanni Paisiello (71) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
August 15, 1811:
A Mass in G by Giovanni Paisiello (71) is performed for the first time, in Paris. This is a different setting than the one premiered on this date two years ago.
August 15, 1812:
A Mass in C by Giovanni Paisiello (72) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
May 23, 1815:
King Ferdinando of Naples publishes an amnesty for all employees of the previous regime, including Giovanni Paisiello (75).
June 5, 1816:
Giovanni Paisiello dies at his home in Naples of hepatitis and meterorism (gaseous distention of the stomach or intestine), aged 76 years and 27 days.