November 14, 1774:
Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini is born at via Nazario Sauro in Maiolati, near Iesi, in the Papal States, the second of four children born to Giambattista Spontini, an artisan, and Maria Teresa Geltrude Guadagnini.
October 10, 1797:
Adelina Senese, o sia L’amore secreto, a dramma giocoso by Gaspare Spontini (22) to words of Bertati, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Samuele, Venice.
May 22, 1798:
Teseo riconosciuto, a dramma per musica by Gaspare Spontini (23) to words of Giotti, is performed for the first time, in Teatro Intrepidi, Florence.
August 28, 1800:
Gli Elisi delusi, a melodramma buffo by Gaspare Spontini (25) to words of Monti, is performed for the first time, in the Teatro Santa Cecilia, Palermo.
November 3, 1801:
Gli amanti in cimento, o sia Il geloso audace, a dramma giocoso by Gaspare Spontini (26) to words perhaps by Bertati, is performed for the first time, in the Teatro Valle, Rome.
December 31, 1803:
Gaspare Spontini (29) makes his debut at the Théâtre-Italien de Paris.
February 11, 1804:
The second version of Gaspare Spontini’s (29) dramma giocoso per musica La finta filosofa to words of Piccinni is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
May 12, 1804:
La petite maison, an opéra-comique by Gaspare Spontini (29) to words of Dieulafoy and Gersin, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris. Due to anti-Italian feelings in France, it will have only three performances.
November 27, 1804:
Milton, a fait historique by Gaspare Spontini (30) to words of de Jouy and Dieulafoy, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
March 12, 1805:
Julie, ou Le pot de fleurs, a comédie en prose, mêlée de chants by Gaspare Spontini (30) to words of Jars, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
February 8, 1806:
L’eccelsa gara, a cantata composed by Gaspare Spontini (31) to words of Balocchi to honor the French victory at Austerlitz, is performed for the first time, in the Salle Louvois, Paris.
March 17, 1806:
Tout le monde a tort, a vaudeville by Gaspare Spontini (31), is performed for the first time, in Malmaison.
December 15, 1807:
La vestale, a tragédie lyrique by Gaspare Spontini (33) to words of Jouy, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra. The performance came to fruition only through the patronage of Empress Josephine. It is an enormous success and will run 200 performances.
November 28, 1809:
Gaspare Spontini’s (35) tragédie lyrique Fernand Cortez, ou La conquête du Mexique to words of Jouy and d’Esmenard after Piron, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra in the presence of the Emperor as well as King Friedrich August I of Saxony and King Hieronymus Bonaparte of Westphalia.
August 3, 1811:
Gaspare Spontini (36) marries Maria Caterina Celeste Erard, daughter of the Erard manufacturers of pianos and harps.
August 12, 1813:
Carl Maria von Weber (26) begins rehearsals for the first production in Prague with his reconstituted company: Gaspare Spontini’s (38) Fernand Cortez. It is the first of 62 operas Weber will produce in Prague.
April 16, 1814:
Gaspare Spontini (39) petitions King Louis XVIII for directorship of the king’s private music and the Théâtre-Italien.
August 23, 1814:
Pélage, ou Le roi et la paix, an opéra by Gaspare Spontini (39) to words of Jouy, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
September 9, 1814:
King Louis XVIII appoints Gaspare Spontini (39) as director of the King’s Private Music and the Théâtre-Italien.
June 21, 1816:
Les dieux rivaux, ou Les fêtes de Cythère, an opéra-ballet by Gaspare Spontini (41) to words of Dieulafoy and Brifaut, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
October 22, 1817:
A Grand Bacchanale for orchestra by Gaspare Spontini (42) is performed for the first time, in a performance of Les danaïdes by Antonio Salieri (67).
November 19, 1817:
Gaspare Spontini (43) becomes a naturalized citizen of France by order of King Louis XVIII.
December 22, 1819:
Olimpie, a tragédie lyrique by Gaspare Spontini (45) to words of Dieulafoy and Brifaut after Voltaire, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
February 1, 1820:
Gaspare Spontini (45) takes up his position as Generalmusikdirektor in Berlin.
January 27, 1821:
Lalla Rukh, a festspiel by Gaspare Spontini (46) to words of Spiker after Moore, is performed for the first time, in the Royal Palace, Berlin.
May 3, 1821:
Johann Nepomuk Hummel (42) gives a concert in Berlin. While in the city, he makes the acquaintance of royal Kapellmeister Gaspare Spontini (36).
May 14, 1821:
Olympia, an opera by Gaspare Spontini (46) to words of Dieulafoy and Briffaut, translated by Hoffmann, is performed for the first time, in the Berlin Opera. The audience includes Carl Maria von Weber (34), in town for the premiere of Der Freischütz. This is the German version of Olympie. See 22 December 1818.
May 27, 1822:
Nurmahal, oder Das Rosenfest von Kaschmir, a lyrisches Drama mit Ballet by Gaspare Spontini (47) to words of Herklots after Moore, is performed for the first time at the Royal Opera House, Berlin.
May 23, 1825:
Gaspare Spontini’s (50) zauberoper Alcidor to words of Théaulon de Lambert after Rochon de Chabannes translated by Herklotz, is performed for the first time, at the Berlin Opera.
May 28, 1827:
The first act of Agnes von Hohenstaufen, a lyrisches Drama by Gaspare Spontini (52) to words of Raupach, is performed for the first time, in the Royal Opera House, Berlin. See 12 June 1829 and 6 December 1837.
March 11, 1829:
18:00 Felix Mendelssohn (20) conducts (from the piano) the first performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's (†78) St. Matthew Passion in nearly a century. This performance, in the Berlin Singakademie, is much more successful than the original. Among the standing room only audience are King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel, Gaspare Spontini (53), Alexander von Humboldt, and Heinrich Heine. The conductor uses a baton for the first time. In the alto section of the chorus is Fanny Mendelssohn (23).
June 12, 1829:
Agnes von Hohenstaufen, a grosse historisch-romantische Oper by Gaspare Spontini (54) to words of Raupach, is performed completely for the first time, in the Royal Opera House, Berlin. See 28 May 1827 and 6 December 1837.
September 12, 1829:
Gott segne den König, a cantata by Gaspare Spontini (54) to words of Herklotz, is performed for the first time, in Halle.
October 28, 1830:
Hector Berlioz (26) petitions the French Minister of the Interior for “authorization to enjoy in Paris the grant which the government in its munificence accords to laureates of the Academy.” He includes support from four eminent musicians including Gaspare Spontini (55) and Giacomo Meyerbeer (39).
December 5, 1830:
Afternoon. Episode de la vie d’un artiste: Symphonie fantastique en cinq parties by Hector Berlioz (26) is performed for the first time, at the Paris Conservatoire. Also on the program is the premiere of Berlioz’ Chant guerrier for voice and piano to words of Moore, translated by Gounet. Giacomo Meyerbeer (39) and Gaspare Spontini (56) are among the admirers. Berlioz later remembers that Liszt (19) “forcibly led me off to dinner at his house and praised me with the most energetic enthusiasm.” Tonight Harriet Smithson appears at the Opéra in the title role of Auber’s (48) La Muette de Portici. Her performance is a failure. Berlioz does not attend as he is having dinner with Liszt.
July 7, 1837:
Lowell Mason (45) calls at the home of Gaspare Spontini (62) in Berlin and is warmly received.
December 6, 1837:
Agnes von Hohenstaufen, a grosse historisch-romantische Oper by Gaspare Spontini (63) to words of Raupach revised by Lichtenstein, is performed for the first time, in the Berlin Opera. See 28 May 1827 and 12 June 1829.
November 27, 1838:
Cardinal Ostini, Archbishop of Iesi, issues the edict “against the abuse of theatrical music in churches.” It is based on recent conversations he has had with Gaspare Spontini (64).
February 12, 1839:
Through the influence of Gaspare Spontini (64), Nicolò Paganini (56) is named a member of the Santa Cecilia Society in Rome.
April 2, 1841:
Gaspare Spontini (66), accused of insulting King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, appears to conduct a performance of Mozart’s (†49) Don Giovanni in Berlin. There is a riot in the hall and he is forced to withdraw after the overture.
January 21, 1845:
Pope Gregory XVI appoints Gaspare Spontini (70) as Count of San Andrea.
October 30, 1845:
In a concert organized by the father of the composer, the églogue biblique Ruth for solo voices, chorus and orchestra by César Franck (22) to words of the Bible and Guillemin is performed for the first time, in the Salle Erard, Paris. Present at the invitation of the elder Franck are Gaspare Spontini (70), Giacomo Meyerbeer (54), Fromental Halévy (46), Adolphe Adam (42), Charles-Valentin Alkan (31), Franz Liszt (34) and Ignaz Moscheles. The composers are mildly lauditory except for Liszt who is effusively so.
February 19, 1850:
Hector Berlioz (46) conducts the first concert of the Société Philharmonique in Paris. This new cooperative orchestra was founded by 220 shareholders including, Gaspare Spontini (75), Giacomo Meyerbeer (58), Hector Berlioz (46), Franz Liszt (38), and about 200 musicians.
January 24, 1851:
Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini dies in his new home (now on Via G. Spontini) at Maiolati, Papal States, of a heart ailment, aged 76 years, two months, and ten days. His mortal remains will be buried in the Church of Santo Stefano in Maiolati, later to be transferred to the Church of San Giovanni Battista, as was the composer’s wish.
March 22, 1851:
Ambroise Thomas (39) is elected to Gaspare Spontini’s (†0) chair at the Institute. Hector Berlioz (47) comes in third.