Araja, Francesco
(1709–1767)
Araja [Aríghya] (Araia), Francesco (6–25–1709, Naples; [1767] c. 1770, ?Bologna). The first of a host of Italian composers in the service of the Russian court. He studied in Naples, where his first opera was perf. in 1729. Other operas followed for Rome, Milan, Venice, and P., where he lived from 1735–38 and was made kapellmeister by Empress Anne. La forza dell'amore e dell'odia (1734), his first opera staged in Russia (1–29/2–9–1736), was soon followed by La finto Nino, overo La Semiramide…