Vincenza Garelli della Morea

Vincenza Garelli della Morea née Valeggio (Countess de Cardenas; 1859 – after 1924) was an Italian pianist and composer. She also used the pseudonym Centa della Morea. She played in a salon with notable composers such as Arrigo Boito, Franco Faccio and Gaetano Coronaro. Her compositions include three pantomimes, operettas, orchestral works and a string quartet, as well as songs and piano pieces. An Ave Maria written by Della Morea at a young age was performed at the Carignano Theatre in Turin, and then again later in Catania and Rome in 1888.

Biography Vincenza Garelli della Morea was born in Valeggio, in the province of Pavia, in 1859. She married the Count de Cardenas and lived in Milan. Della Morea wrote an Ave Maria for four voices and an orchestra when she was very young, which was performed at the Carignano Theatre in Turin, and then again later in Catania and Rome in 1888. In Rome she became acquainted with writers Gabriele D'Annunzio and Matilde Serao. Her songs were performed at other salons.

Works Della Morea composed three pantomimes, an opera, Le nozze di Leporello, operettas, orchestral works, a string quartet and a number of songs and piano pieces. Selected compositions include: Incantesimo, operetta, libretto by G. Drovetti, 1915 Il viaggio dei Perrichon, operetta, libretto by G. Drovetti after E. Labiche, 1916 Le nozze di Leporello, commedia, libretto by L. Almirante), 1924 L’esultanza della stirpe for orchestra Idillio pastorale for orchestra La ballata d’Arlecchino for orchestra