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Scarlatti Domenico ( 1685-1757 Italy)

Domenico Scarlatti was born in Naples, in 1685. His first teacher was his father, Alessandro Scarlatti, who was also a composer, and teacher. He was influenced by Fancesco Gasparini, Bernardo Pasquini, and Gaetano Greco. They may probably be his teachers, as well.

In 1701, he became a composer and organist at the royal chapel in Naples, and some years later his father sent him to Venice. In 1709 he went to Rome in the service of the exiled Polish queen Marie Casimire.

Scarlatti was also an outstanding harpsichordist. It has been supported that he was judged possibly superior to Händel on that instrument.

According to Vicente Bicchi (Papal Nuncio at the time), Domenico Scarlatti arrived in Lisbon on November 29, 1719. There he taught music to the Portuguese princess Maria Magdalena Barbara.He left Lisbon on January 28, 1727 for Rome, where he married Maria Caterina Gentili on May 6, 1728. In 1729 he moved to Sevilla, staying for four years and gaining a knowledge of Flamenco. In 1733 he moved to Madrid.

After the death of his wife in 1742 he married a Spaniard, Anastasia Maxarti Ximenes.

He died there, in Madrid, aged 71.