Alessandra Palidda

«Music for Academies». Concerts and Events at Court in the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy’s Music Collection.

Abstract

This paper presents the first results of the research on the “Music for Academies” section within the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy court’s music collection (1805-1814), now at the Milan Conservatory Library. This section — the most extensive and diverse inside that collection — documents repertoires, practices, and artists involved in the musical events and entertainments held at the Viceroy’s court residences, in Milan and Monza. A study of the 1814 inventory and its comparison with other archival and musical sources also helps reconstruct the circulation, scattering, and cataloging of scores, as well as the impact of political and institutional changes on their transmission. As for music history, this essay focuses on two main aspects: (1) music celebrating the dynasty, and (2) a broad and mostly vocal operatic repertoire, intended for entertainment. Sources depict the Viceroy’s court as a vibrant cultural hub, sporting an eclectic taste, as well as intense exchanges with artists, institutions (e.g., theaters and the newly founded Milan Conservatory), and broader European musical circles.