MORLACCHI, FRANCESCO. - Musician, b. at Perugia on 14 June 1784, d. at Innsbruck on 28 Oct. 1841. He studied in his native city, perfected his training at Loreto under Zingarelli and at Bologna under Fr. Mattei.
He made his debut with various sacred compositions. Turning to the theatre, he wrote several operas which met with considerable success. In 1810 he was summoned to the court of Dresden as chapel master and director of the Italian Opera, drawing inspiration from the great German classics. He wrote the oratorios: La Passione (Dresden, 1812), Isacco (ibid. 1817), La morte di Abele (ibid. 1821), ten masses, including a Requiem for the King of Saxony, motets, psalms, and other sacred pieces, as well as organ sonatas and chamber music. Pius VII decorated him with the Order of the Golden Militia and the title of Count Palatine.
BIBLI. A. Mezzanotte, Elogio funebre di M. F., Perugia 1842; G. B. Rossi Scotti, Memorie storiche del maestro M. F., ibid. 1860; O. Chilesotti, I nostri maestri del passato, Milan 1882, p. 173 ff.; E. Magni Duffocq, F. M., in Bollettino bibliografico musicale, 1930, pp. 5-25. Silverio Mattei