Niccolò Porpora, his operas and disciples
Niccolò Porpora, his operas and disciples

Summary/Abstract: Niccolò Porpora was a famous singing teacher and composer with notoriety in the glory age of the castrati singers. He composed 50 operas; applying the formula specific to the baroque era, with simple recitatives and aria da capo, representing the basis of the early 18th century in the Italian opera, which gave many opportunities to the singers to assert themselves and become the true stars on the stages from all over the Europe. The well-known opera seria, introduced with great success in lyrical theaters, was the ideal platform for some singers who possessed a consistent vocal technique, managing to capture the audience's attention with extraordinary breathing power and their register of more than two octaves, even over three for some of them. Porpora's pupils were recognized as personalities that marked a historical time, identified with the pre-classical period, among the most important being: Farinelli, Caffarelli, Appianino, Salimbeni, Porporino and others.

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