Francisco Xavier Migoni, of Italian descent, was born in Lisbon on May 27, 1811, and began his musical training at the Seminário da Patriarcal with Friar José Marques. The latter developed a special appreciation for his disciple and played an important role in promoting his musical career, introducing him to prominent figures such as the Marquis of Borba, and enabling his appointment as music professor at the University of Coimbra in 1832.¹
In 1835, after the replacement of the Seminário da Patriarcal by the Conservatório Nacional, Migoni accepted João Domingos Bomtempo’s invitation to take up the position of piano professor at that institution.² Upon Bomtempo’s death in 1842, the composer ended up assuming the direction of the Conservatory’s Music School, a responsibility he combined with the role of maestro at the Teatro de São Carlos for several seasons, between 1843 and 1846 and from 1848 onwards.³
At this time, integrated into the theatrical context, Migoni decided to venture into the field of dramatic repertoire with the composition of Sampiero – an opera with a libretto by Luigi Arceri, presented at São Carlos on April 4, 1852, and warmly received. Satisfied with this first experience, the composer decided to continue his operatic career with the same librettist and, with him, wrote a second opera, Mocanna (1854), which failed to capture the interest of audiences and critics.⁴ Three years later, he was entrusted with travelling to Paris and Milan to find a company to join São Carlos. He returned from the journey with some celebrated singers, but also with fragile health. The illness forced him to interrupt his composition and pedagogical activity and accompanied him during the last years of his life, until his death on June 10, 1861.⁵
