Alessandro Scarlatti, craftsman of Baroque opera

Alessandro Scarlatti, a famous Italian Baroque composer, is considered to be the father of the Neapolitan school of opera. His skills and diligence were highly appreciated by many influential figures of that epoch. Thus, he was appointed by Queen Christina of Sweden her own maestro di cappella and four years later he occupied the similar post at the court of the viceroy in Naples. He was also protégé of Ferdinando de' Medici as he composed operas for his private theatre, and of Cardinal Ottoboni, who also made him his maestro di cappella.
You can also enjoy pieces by this talented composer. Here O cessate di piagarmi you’ll find sheet music of one of his earliest works, the air “O cessate di piagarmi” from the opera “Il Pompeo”. This rarely soulful and tragic piece will be interesting for all Baroque music lovers, both for beginners and advanced musicians.

Feodor Koenemann, a Russian music genius

Talented Russian composer and brilliant pianist, Professor of Moscow Conservatory, Feodor Feodorovich Koenemann was the author of over 100 works and his life-time friendship with Feodor Chaliapin created the perfect artistic duet of a singer-wunderkind and virtuoso pianist, whose destinies bond together in a remarkable creative union for a quarter of a century. He accompanied Feodor Chaliapin invariably on the concert stage, but he also wrote music for songs, which then performed by Chaliapin acquired a huge popularity. Eminent talent of Koenemann as of the author of popular music manifested itself most clearly through his song compositions such as the ballads "As the king went to war" and "The Blacksmith", the concert arrangement of a Russian folk song "Hey, uhnem!" and the romance "Three Roads" dedicated to Feodor Chaliapin.
Sheet music of the romance "Three Roads" is available for download here Three Roads.

Mikhail Akimovich Slonov, master of the Russian romance

Mikhail Akimovich Slonov, recognized singer and composer, good friend of S. Rachmaninoff and F. Chaliapin, was famous for his excellent taste in music. He composed a huge number of compositions in different genres including a lot of choral music and theatre pieces, children songs and more than 30 romances and popular songs. Rare sheet music of one of his most popular romances “Ah, Thou, Red Sun!” you can find here Ah, Thou, Red Sun!. The romance was written special for the genius of the Russian opera scene F. Chaliapin, who enjoyed the piece particularly and performed it therefore constantly at his concerts and even recorded it on his first gramophone record.