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Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) competition in 1972. The Army designated the prototype as the YUH-60A and selected the Black Hawk as the winner of the program in 1976, after a fly-off competition with the Boeing Vertol YUH-61.

Named after the Native American war leader Black Hawk, the UH-60A entered service with the U.S. Army in 1979, to replace the Bell UH-1 Iroquois as the Army's tactical transport helicopter. This was followed by the fielding of electronic warfare and special operations variants of the Black Hawk. Improved UH-60L and UH-60M utility variants have also been developed. Modified versions have also been developed for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. In addition to U.S. Army use, the UH-60 family has been exported to several nations. Black Hawks have served in combat during conflicts in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, Ukraine, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and other areas in the Middle East.

Major variants include the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk used for naval purposes, Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk for combat search and rescue, and many other types and upgrades including various export, VIP, special operation types. Various upgrades have taken place over the years and the latest version is the UH-60M.

Initial requirement
In the late 1960s, the United States Army began forming requirements for a helicopter to replace the UH-1 Iroquois, and designated the program as the Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS). The Army also initiated the development of a new, common turbine engine for its helicopters that would become the General Electric T700. Based on experience in Vietnam, the Army required significant performance, survivability and reliability improvements from both UTTAS and the new powerplant. The Army released its UTTAS request for proposals (RFP) in January 1972. The RFP also included air transport requirements. Transport within the C-130 limited the UTTAS cabin height and length.

The UTTAS requirements for improved reliability, survivability and lower life-cycle costs resulted in features such as dual-engines with improved hot and high altitude performance, and a modular design (reduced maintenance footprint); run-dry gearboxes; ballistically tolerant, redundant subsystems (hydraulic, electrical and flight controls); crashworthy crew (armored) and troop seats; dual-stage oleo main landing gear; ballistically tolerant, crashworthy main structure; quieter, more robust main and tail rotor systems; and a ballistically tolerant, crashworthy fuel system.

Four prototypes were constructed, with the first YUH-60A flying on 17 October 1974. Prior to the delivery of the prototypes to the US Army, a preliminary evaluation was conducted in November 1975 to ensure the aircraft could be operated safely during all testing. Three of the prototypes were delivered to the Army in March 1976, for evaluation against the rival Boeing-Vertol design, the YUH-61A, and one was kept by Sikorsky for internal research. The Army selected the UH-60 for production in December 1976. Deliveries of the UH-60A to the Army began in October 1978 and the helicopter entered service in June 1979.

Upgrades and variations
After entering service, the helicopter was modified for new missions and roles, including mine laying and medical evacuation. An EH-60 variant was developed to conduct electronic warfare and special operations aviation developed the MH-60 variant to support its missions.

Due to weight increases from the addition of mission equipment and other changes, the Army ordered the improved UH-60L in 1987. The new model incorporated all of the modifications made to the UH-60A fleet as standard design features. The UH-60L also featured more power and lifting capability with upgraded T700-GE-701C engines and an improved gearbox, both from the SH-60B Seahawk. Its external lift capacity increased by 1000 lb up to 9000 lb. The UH-60L also incorporated the SH-60B's automatic flight control system (AFCS) for better flight control with more powerful engines. Production of the L-model began in 1989.

Development of the next improved variant, the UH-60M, was approved in 2001, to extend the service life of the UH-60 design into the 2020s. The UH-60M incorporates upgraded T700-GE-701D engines, improved rotor blades, and state-of-the-art electronic instrumentation, flight controls and aircraft navigation control. After the U.S. DoD approved low-rate initial production of the new variant, manufacturing began in 2006, with the first of 22 new UH-60Ms delivered in July 2006. After an initial operational evaluation, the Army approved full-rate production and a five-year contract for 1,227 helicopters in December 2007. By March 2009, 100 UH-60M helicopters had been delivered to the Army. In November 2014, the US military ordered 102 aircraft of various H-60 types, worth $1.3 billion.

Following their use in the operation to kill Osama bin Laden in May 2011, it emerged that the 160th SOAR used a secret version of the UH-60 modified with low-observable technology which enabled it to evade Pakistani radar. Analysis of the tail section, the only remaining part of the aircraft which crashed during the operation, revealed extra blades on the tail rotor and other noise reduction measures, making the craft much quieter than conventional UH-60s. The aircraft appeared to include features like special high-tech materials, harsh angles, and flat surfaces found only in stealth jets. Low observable versions of the Black Hawk have been studied as far back as the mid-1970s.

In September 2012, Sikorsky was awarded a Combat Tempered Platform Demonstration (CTPD) contract to further improve the Black Hawk's durability and survivability. The company is to develop new technologies such as a zero-vibration system, adaptive flight control laws, advanced fire management, a more durable main rotor, full-spectrum crashworthiness, and damage-tolerant airframe; then they are to transition them to the helicopter. Improvements to the Black Hawk are to continue until the Future Vertical Lift program is ready to replace it.

In December 2014, the 101st Airborne Division began testing new resupply equipment called the Enhanced Speed Bag System (ESBS). Soldiers in the field requiring quick resupply have depended on speed bags filled with items airdropped from a UH-60. However, all systems were ad hoc with bags not made to keep objects secure from impacts, so up to half of the airdropped items would be damaged upon hitting the ground. Started in 2011, the ESBS sought to standardize the airdrop resupply method and keep up to 90 percent of supplies intact. The system includes a hands-free reusable linear brake and expendable speed line and a multipurpose cargo bag. When the bag is deployed, the brake applies friction to the rope, slowing it down enough to keep the bag oriented down on the padded base, a honeycomb and foam kit inside to dissipate energy.

The ESBS better protects helicopter-dropped supplies, and allows the Black Hawk to fly higher above the ground, 100 ft up from 10 feet, while travelling 20 knot, limiting exposure to ground fire. Each bag can weigh 125-200 lb and up to six can be deployed at once, dropping at 40-50 ft/s. Since supplies can be delivered more accurately and the system can be automatically released on its own, the ESBS can enable autonomous resupply from unmanned helicopters.

Design

The UH-60 features four-blade main and tail rotors, and is powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines. The main rotor is fully articulated and has elastomeric bearings in the rotor head. The tail rotor is canted and features a rigid crossbeam. The helicopter has a long, low profile shape to meet the Army's requirement for transporting aboard a C-130 Hercules, with some disassembly. It can carry 11 troops with equipment, lift 2600 lb of cargo internally or 9000 lb of cargo (for UH-60L/M) externally by sling.

The Black Hawk helicopter series can perform a wide array of missions, including the tactical transport of troops, electronic warfare, and aeromedical evacuation. A VIP version known as the VH-60N is used to transport important government officials (e.g., Congress, Executive departments) with the helicopter's call sign of "Marine One" when transporting the President of the United States. In air assault operations, it can move a squad of 11 combat troops or reposition a 105 mm M119 howitzer with 30 rounds ammunition and a four-man crew in a single lift. The Black Hawk is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics for increased survivability and capability, such as the Global Positioning System.

The UH-60 can be equipped with stub wings at the top of the fuselage to carry fuel tanks or various armaments. The initial stub wing system is called External Stores Support System (ESSS). It has two pylons on each wing to carry two 230 USgal and two 450 USgal tanks in total. The four fuel tanks and associated lines and valves form the external extended range fuel system (ERFS). U.S. Army UH-60s have had their ESSS modified into the crashworthy external fuel system (CEFS) configuration, replacing the older tanks with up to four total 200 USgal crashworthy tanks along with self-sealing fuel lines. The ESSS can also carry 10000 lb of armament such as rockets, missiles and gun pods. The ESSS entered service in 1986. However, it was found that the four fuel tanks obstruct the field of fire for the door guns; thus, the external tank system (ETS), carrying two fuel tanks on the stub wings, was developed.

The unit cost of the H-60 models varies due to differences in specifications, equipment and quantities. For example, the unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million while the Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk has a unit cost of $10.2 million.

Operational history
The UH-60 Black Hawk is in service with 35 different countries as of 2024.

Australia

Australia bought early model UH-60 in the 1980s, and is buying a fleet of newer versions ones in the 2020s: Australia ordered fourteen S-70A-9 Black Hawks in 1986 and an additional twenty-five Black Hawks in 1987. The first US-produced Black Hawk was delivered in 1987 to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). de Havilland Australia produced thirty-eight Black Hawks under license from Sikorsky in Australia delivering the first in 1988 and the last in 1991. In 1989, the RAAF's fleet of Black Hawks was transferred to the Australian Army. The Black Hawks saw operational service in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, East Timor and Pakistan.

In April 2009, the then-defence chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, told the government not to deploy Black Hawks to Afghanistan as at the time they "lacked armor and self-defense systems", and despite an upgrade to address this underway, it was more practical to use allies' helicopters. In 2004, the government selected the Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH-90) Taipan, a variant of the NHIndustries NH90, to replace the Black Hawk even though the Department of Defence had recommended the S‐70M Black Hawk.

In January 2014, the Army began retiring the fleet of 34 Black Hawks from service (five had been lost in accidents) and had planned for this to be completed by June 2018. The Chief of Army delayed the retirement of 20 Black Hawks until 2021 to enable the Army to develop a special operations role capable MRH-90. On 10 December 2021, the S-70A-9 Black Hawks were retired from service. On the same day, amid issues with the performance of the MRH-90s the government announced that they would be replaced by UH-60M Black Hawks. In January 2023, the Army announced the acquisition of 40 UH-60Ms with deliveries commencing in 2023.

Brazil
Brazil received four UH-60L helicopters in 1997, for the Brazilian Army peacekeeping forces. It received six UH-60Ls configured for special forces, and search and rescue uses in 2008. It ordered ten more UH-60Ls in 2009; deliveries began in March 2011.

China
In December 1983, examples of the Aerospatiale AS-332 Super Puma, Bell 214ST SuperTransport and Sikorsky S-70A-5 (N3124B) were airlifted to Lhasa for testing. These demonstrations included take-offs and landings at altitudes to 17000 ft and en route operations to 24000 ft. At the end of this testing, the People's Liberation Army purchased 24 S-70C-2s, equipped with more powerful GE T700-701A engines for improved high-altitude performance. While designated as civil variants of the S-70 for export purposes, they are operated by the People's Liberation Army Aviation units.

Colombia

Colombia first received UH-60s from the United States in 1987. The Colombian National Police, Colombian Aerospace Force, and Colombian Army use UH-60s to transport troops and supplies to places which are difficult to access by land for counter-insurgency (COIN) operations against drug and guerrilla organizations, for search and rescue, and for medical evacuation. Colombia also operates a militarized gunship version of the UH-60, with stub wings, locally known as Arpía (Harpy).

The Colombian Army became the first worldwide operator of the S-70i with Terrain Awareness and Warning Capability (HTAWS) after taking delivery of the first two units on 13 August 2013.

Israel
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) received 10 surplus UH-60A Black Hawks from the United States in August 1994. Named Yanshuf (Owl) by the IAF, the UH-60A began replacing Bell 212 utility helicopters. The IAF first used the UH-60s in combat during 1996 in southern Lebanon in Operation Grapes of Wrath against Hezbollah.

Mexico

The Mexican Air Force ordered its first two UH-60Ls in 1991 to transport special forces units, and another four in 1994. In July and August 2009, the Federal Police used UH-60s in attacks on drug traffickers. In August 2011, the Mexican Navy received three upgraded and navalized UH-60M. On 21 April 2014, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of 18 UH-60Ms to Mexico pending approval from Congress. In September 2014, Sikorsky received a $203.6 million (~$ in ) firm-fixed-price contract modification for the 18 UH-60s designated for the Mexican Air Force.

Philippines

2 S-70-A5 VIP helicopters purchased 1983 and was delivered in 1984, this Blackhawk served the 250th PAW for more than 3 decades as a Presidential VVIP transport helicopter. Only 1 remains in service with the 505th Search and Rescue Group.

In March 2019, the Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) signed a contract worth US$241.4 million (~$ in ) with Lockheed Martin's Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec for 16 Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawks to the PAF. On 10 December 2020, the PAF commissioned their first batch of six S-70i Blackhawks, with the remaining 10 to be delivered in 2021. In June 2021, the air service received a second batch of five helicopters. In November 2021, the third batch of five arrived.

On 22 February 2022, DND and PZL Mielec formally signed the US$624 million contract for 32 additional S-70i Black Hawks, totalling to around 48 units ordered. This will make the Philippine Air Force the largest user of S-70i Blackhawk Helicopters globally.

Poland
In January 2019, Poland ordered four S-70i Black Hawks with four delivered to the Polish Special Forces in December of that same year. Another four S-70i helicopters are on order with two scheduled for delivery in 2023 and two in 2024. In July 2023, Poland launched a procurement tender for S-70i Black Hawks with a goal to order approximately 32 helicopters.

Slovakia
In February 2015, the U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of nine UH-60Ms with associated equipment and support to Slovakia and sent it to Congress for its approval. In April 2015, Slovakia's government approved the procurement of nine UH-60Ms along with training and support. In September 2015, Slovakia ordered four UH-60Ms. The first two UH-60Ms were delivered in June 2017; the Slovak Air Force had received all nine UH-60Ms by January 2020. These are to replace its old Soviet Mil Mi-17s. In 2020, the Slovak minister of defense announced Slovakia's interest in buying two more UH-60Ms.

Slovak Training Academy from Košice, a private company, operates four older UH-60As for new pilot training.

Sweden

Sweden requested 15 UH-60M helicopters by Foreign Military Sale in September 2010. The UH-60Ms were ordered in May 2011, and deliveries began in January 2012. In March 2013, Swedish ISAF forces began using Black Hawks in Afghanistan for MEDEVAC purposes. The UH-60Ms have been fully operational since 2017. Sweden designates it the Helicopter 16 (Hkp 16). In June 2024, Sweden ordered 12 more UH-60Ms from the US.

Taiwan
Taiwan (Republic of China) operated S-70C-1/1A after the Republic of China Air Force received ten S-70C-1A and four S-70C-1 Bluehawk helicopters in June 1986 for Search and Rescue. Four more S-70C-6s were received in April 1998. The ROC Navy received the first of ten S-70C(M)-1s in July 1990. 11 S-70C(M)-2s were received beginning April 2000. In January 2010, the US announced approval for a Foreign Military Sale of 60 UH-60Ms to Taiwan with 30 designated for the Army, 15 for the National Airborne Service Corps (including the one that crashed off Orchid Island in 2018) and 15 for the Air Force Rescue Group (including the one that crashed 2 January 2020).

Turkey
Turkey has operated the UH-60 during NATO deployments to Afghanistan and the Balkans. The UH-60 has also been used in counter-terror/internal security operations.

The Black Hawk competed against the AgustaWestland AW149 in the Turkish General Use Helicopter Tender, to order up to 115 helicopters and produce many of them indigenously, with Turkish Aerospace Industries responsible for final integration and assembly. On 21 April 2011, Turkey announced the selection of Sikorsky's T-70.

In the course of the coup d'état attempt in Turkey on 15 July 2016, eight Turkish military personnel of various ranks landed in Greece's northeastern city of Alexandroupolis on board a Black Hawk helicopter and claimed political asylum in Greece. The helicopter was returned to Turkey shortly thereafter.

Ukraine
In February 2023, Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) published a video showing them operating at least two UH-60s painted in Ukrainian colors. The helicopters appeared to have minimal modifications, namely the addition of two M240 7.62 mm machine guns for defensive purposes. It was confirmed that at least one of these was purchased by a third party, Ace Aeronautics, following a Czech crowdfunding effort that raised US$6 million. On 17 March 2024, Russia claimed to have shot down a UH-60 during the 2024 western Russia incursion, claiming it was a "troop transport" carrying 20 troops into combat. However, it was revealed to be a Mil Mi-8 instead.

United States

The UH-60 entered service with the U.S. Army's 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division in June 1979. The U.S. military first used the UH-60 in combat during the invasion of Grenada in 1983, and again in the invasion of Panama in 1989. During the Gulf War in 1991, the UH-60 participated in the largest air assault mission in U.S. Army history with over 300 helicopters involved. Two UH-60s (89-26214 and 78–23015) were shot down, both on 27 February 1991, while performing Combat Search and Rescue of other downed aircrews, an F-16C pilot and the crew of a MEDEVAC UH-1H that were shot down earlier that day.

In 1993, Black Hawks featured prominently in the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. Black Hawks also saw action in the Balkans and Haiti in the 1990s. U.S. Army UH-60s and other helicopters conducted many air assaults and other support missions during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The UH-60 has continued to serve in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine (OAM) uses the UH-60 in its operations specifically along the southwest border. The Black Hawk has been used by OAM to interdict illegal entry into the U.S. Additionally, OAM regularly uses the UH-60 in search and rescue operations. Highly modified H-60s were employed during the U.S. Special Operations mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden during Operation Neptune Spear on 1 May 2011. One such MH-60 helicopter crash-landed during the operation and was destroyed by the team before it departed in the other MH-60 and a backup MH-47 Chinook with bin Laden's remains. Two MH-47s were used for the mission to refuel the two MH-60s and as backups. News media reported that the Pakistani government granted the Chinese military access to the wreckage of the crashed 'stealth' UH-60 variant in Abbottabad;  Pakistan and China denied the reports,  and the U.S. government has not confirmed Chinese access.

In U.S. service, the Army plans to eventually replace it with a tilt-rotor aircraft, the V-280 Valor; In December 2022, the V-280 was chosen by the US Army as the winner of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program to replace UH-60 Blackhawk in Army service. (that does not mean all UH-60 variants will be replaced, its for the Army version)

Additional users
The United Arab Emirates requested 14 UH-60M helicopters and associated equipment in September 2008, through Foreign Military Sale. It had received 20 UH-60Ls by November 2010. Bahrain ordered nine UH-60Ms in 2007.

In December 2011, the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF / TUDB) ordered twelve S-70i helicopters, which are similar to the UH-60M; four aircraft had been received by December 2013. In June 2012, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress that Qatar requested the purchase of twelve UH-60Ms, engines, and associated equipment. The Royal Brunei Air Force had earlier bought four UH-60, but these were later sold to Malaysia.

In May 2014, Croatian Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović announced the beginning of negotiations for the purchase of 15 used Black Hawks. In October 2018, the US via Ambassador Robert Kohorst announced donation of two UH-60M helicopters with associated equipment and crew training to Croatia's Ministry of Defence, to be delivered in 2020. In October 2019, the US State Dept approved the sale of two new UH-60M Blackhawks. In February 2022, the first two helicopters were delivered to Croatia. In January 2024, the State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Croatia for 8 UH-60M helicopters and related equipment and services for an estimated cost of $500 million. The U.S. government has provided $139.4 million in financial assistance for 51 percent of the funding, as a compensation for the Croatian donation of 14 Mi-8 helicopters to Ukraine. The remaining sum is be provided by Croatia's Ministry of Defence in the three-year budget period from 2025 to 2027. The Letter of Offer and Acceptance was signed in March 2024. Delivery of all 8 Black Hawks is expected in 2028.

Tunisia requested 12 armed UH-60M helicopters in July 2014 through Foreign Military Sale. In August 2014, the U.S. ambassador stated that the U.S. "will soon make available" the UH-60Ms to Tunisia. The sale of 8 helicopters was approved and helicopters were delivered 2017 and 2018.

In January 2015, the Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein confirmed that Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is receiving S-70A Blackhawks from the Brunei government. These helicopters, believed to be four in total, were expected to be transferred to Malaysia by September with M134D miniguns added. The four Blackhawks were delivered to Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF / TUDB) in 1999.

In 2018, Latvia requested to buy four UH-60M Black Hawks with associated equipment for an estimated cost of $200 million (~$ in ). In August 2018, the State Department approved the possible Foreign Military Sale. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale. In November 2018, Latvia ordered four UH-60Ms, and received the first two in December 2022.

In 2019, Lithuania announced plans to buy six UH-60M helicopters before ordering four UH-60Ms in 2020. In July 2020, the US State Department approved the possible Foreign Military Sale of six UH-60Ms and associated equipment to Lithuania for $380 million. In November 2020, Lithuania signed a contract worth $213 million for four UH-60Ms with an option to purchase two more aircraft. Preparations are almost complete including facilities and training, with deliveries expected in late 2024.

In 2019, Poland ordered four S-70i helicopters for its special forces. As of 2023 there is negotiations to purchase additional S-70i helicopters.

In August 2023, the Portuguese Air Force shared a photo on twitter of the first flight of one of the six UH-60s purchased from Arista Aviation Services. The Portuguese armed forces conducted its first operation flight of its UH-60 in December 2023.

In December 2023, the Hellenic Army selected the UH-60Ms for a possible order of 35 aircraft and associated equipment for an estimated cost of $1.95 billion pending the deal clears Congress. This order was approved by US and Greek governments, and a contract for 35 helicopters agreed by April 2024. In Greek service it will replace aged Bell UH-1H and Agusta-Bell AB205. Greece already operates S-70B and MH-60R helicopters.

Future and potential users
In February 2013, the Indonesian Army announced its interest in buying UH-60 Black Hawks to modernize its weaponry. The army wants them for combating terrorism, transnational crime, and insurgency to secure the archipelago. In August 2023, Indonesian Aerospace and Lockheed Martin signed an agreement for the procurement of 24 UH-60/S-70 Blackhawks.

In 2022, the Royal Air Force and British Army expects to select a helicopter for the New Medium Helicopter program to replace several existing helicopters. Sikorsky has indicated it expects its S-70M to meet the requirement to participate in this procurement selection program.

Variants
The UH-60 comes in many variants and many different modifications. The U.S. Army variants can be fitted with stub wings to carry additional fuel tanks or weapons. Variants may have different capabilities and equipment to fulfil different roles.

Utility variants

 * YUH-60A: Initial test and evaluation version for U.S. Army. First flight on 17 October 1974. Three were built.
 * UH-60A Black Hawk: Original U.S. Army version, carrying a crew of four and up to 11 equipped troops. Equipped with T700-GE-700 engines. Produced 1977–1989. U.S. Army is equipping UH-60As with more powerful T700-GE-701D engines and also upgrading A-models to UH-60L standards.
 * UH-60C Black Hawk: Modified version for command and control (C2) missions.
 * CH-60E: Proposed troop transport variant for the U.S. Marine Corps.
 * UH-60L Black Hawk: UH-60A with upgraded T700-GE-701C engines, improved durability gearbox, and updated flight control system. Produced 1989–2007. UH-60Ls are also being equipped with the GE T700-GE-701D engine. The U.S. Army Corpus Christi Army Depot is upgrading UH-60A helicopters to the UH-60L configuration. In July 2018, Sierra Nevada Corporation proposed upgrading some converted UH-60L helicopters for the U.S. Air Force's UH-1N replacement program.
 * UH-60M Black Hawk: Improved design wide chord rotor blades, T700-GE-701D engines (max 2000 shp each), improved durability gearbox, Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS) computer, and new glass cockpit. Production began in 2006. Planned to replace older U.S. Army UH-60s.
 * UH-60M Upgrade Black Hawk: UH-60M with fly-by-wire system and Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit suite. Flight testing began in August 2008.
 * UH-60V Black Hawk: Upgraded version of the UH-60L with the electronic displays (glass cockpit) of the UH-60M. Upgrades performed by Northrop Grumman featuring a centralized processor with a partitioned, modular operational flight program enabling capabilities to be added as software-only modifications.

Special purpose

 * EH-60A Black Hawk: UH-60A with modified electrical system and stations for two electronic systems mission operators. All examples of type have been converted back to standard UH-60A configuration.
 * YEH-60B Black Hawk: UH-60A modified for special radar and avionics installations, prototype for stand-off target acquisition system.
 * EH-60C Black Hawk: UH-60A modified with special electronics equipment and external antenna. (All examples of type have been taken back to standard UH-60A configuration.)
 * EUH-60L (no official name assigned): UH-60L modified with additional mission electronic equipment for Army Airborne C2.
 * EH-60L Black Hawk: EH-60A with major mission equipment upgrade.
 * UH-60Q Black Hawk: UH-60A modified for medical evacuation. The UH-60Q is named DUSTOFF for "dedicated unhesitating service to our fighting forces".
 * HH-60L (no official name assigned): UH-60L extensively modified with medical mission equipment. Components include an external rescue hoist, integrated patient configuration system, environmental control system, onboard oxygen system (OBOGS), and crash-worthy ambulatory seats.
 * HH-60M Black Hawk: UH-60M with medical mission equipment (medevac version) for U.S. Army.
 * HH-60U: USAF UH-60M version modified with an electro-optical sensor and rescue hoist. Three in use by Air Force pilots and special mission aviators since 2011. Has 85% commonality with the HH-60W.
 * HH-60W Jolly Green II: Modified version of the UH-60M for the U.S. Air Force as a Combat Rescue Helicopter to replace HH-60G Pave Hawks with greater fuel capacity and more internal cabin space, dubbed the "60-Whiskey". Deliveries to the USAF of the HH-50W began in 2020.The 41st Rescue Squadron received the first two HH-60W helicopters on 5 November 2020.
 * MH-60A Black Hawk: 30 UH-60As modified with additional avionics, night vision capable cockpit, FLIR, M134 door guns, internal auxiliary fuel tanks and other Special Operations mission equipment in early 1980s for U.S. Army. Equipped with T700-GE-701 engines. Variant was used by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The MH-60As were replaced by MH-60Ls beginning in the early 1990s and passed to Army Aviation units in the Army National Guard.

 * MH-60L Black Hawk: Special operations modification, used by the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers"), based on the UH-60L with T700-701C engines. It was developed as an interim version in the late 1980s pending the fielding of the MH-60K specifically designed for the 160th SOAR(A). Equipped with many of the systems used on MH-60K, including FLIR, color weather map, auxiliary fuel system, and laser rangefinder/designator. A total of 37 MH-60Ls were built and some 10 had received an in-flight refueling probe by 2003.
 * MH-60L DAP: The Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) is a special operations modification of the baseline MH-60L, operated by the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The DAP is configured as a gunship, with no troop-carrying capacity. The DAP is equipped with ESSS or ETS stub wings, each capable of carrying configurations of the M230 Chain Gun 30 mm automatic cannon, 19-shot Hydra 70 rocket pod, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles, GAU-19 gun pods, and M134 minigun pods, M134D miniguns are used as door guns.
 * MH-60K Black Hawk: Special operations modification first ordered in 1988 for use by the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers"). Equipped with the in-flight refueling probe, and T700-GE-701C engines. More advanced than the MH-60L, the K-model also includes an integrated avionics system (glass cockpit), AN/APQ-174B terrain-following radar, color weather map, improved weapons capability, and various defensive systems.

 * MH-60M Black Hawk: Special operations version of UH-60M for U.S. Army. Equipped with in-flight refueling probe, Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) glass cockpit, updated sensors and defensive systems such as the AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight terrain-following radar, and more powerful YT706-GE-700 engines. All special operations Black Hawks to be modernized to MH-60M standard by 2015. The MH-60M can be configured either as an assault helicopter carrying troops or as a DAP gunship.
 * MH-60 Black Hawk stealth helicopter: One of two (known) specially modified MH-60s used in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan on 1 May 2011 was damaged in a hard landing, and was subsequently destroyed by U.S. forces. Subsequent reports state that the Black Hawk destroyed was a previously unconfirmed but rumored, modification of the design with reduced noise signature and stealth technology. The modifications are said to add several hundred pounds to the base helicopter including edge alignment panels, special coatings and anti-radar treatments for the windshields.
 * UH-60A RASCAL: NASA-modified version for the Rotorcraft-Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory; a US$25M program for the study of helicopter manoeuvrability in three programs, Superaugmented Controls for Agile Maneuvering Performance (SCAMP), Automated Nap-of-the-Earth (ANOE) and Rotorcraft Agility and Pilotage Improvement Demonstration (RAPID). The UH-60A RASCAL performed a fully autonomous flight on 5 November 2012. U.S. Army personnel were on board, but the flying was done by helicopter. During a two-hour flight, the Black Hawk featured terrain sensing, trajectory generation, threat avoidance, and autonomous flight control. It was fitted with a 3D-LZ laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system. The autonomous flight was performed between 200 and 400 feet. Upon landing, the onboard technology was able to pinpoint a safe landing zone, hover, and safely bring itself down.
 * OPBH: On 11 March 2014, Sikorsky successfully conducted the first flight demonstration of their Optionally Piloted Black Hawk (OPBH), a milestone part of the company's Manned/Unmanned Resupply Aerial Lifter (MURAL) program to provide autonomous cargo delivery for the U.S. Army. The helicopter used the company's Matrix technology (software to improve features of autonomous, optionally-piloted VTOL aircraft) to perform autonomous hover and flight operations under the control of an operator using a man-portable Ground Control Station (GCS). The MURAL program is a cooperative effort between Sikorsky, the US Army Aviation Development Directorate (ADD), and the US Army Utility Helicopters Project Office (UH PO). The purpose of creating an optionally-manned Black Hawk is to make the aircraft autonomously carry out resupply missions and expeditionary operations while increasing sorties and maintaining crew rest requirements and leaving pilots to focus more on sensitive operations.
 * VH-60D Night Hawk: VIP-configured HH-60D, used for presidential transport by USMC. T700-GE-401C engines. Variant was later redesignated VH-60N.
 * VH-60N White Hawk "White Top": Modified UH-60A with some features from the SH-60B/F Seahawks. Is one of the VIP-configured USMC helicopter models that perform Presidential and VIP transport as Marine One. The VH-60N entered service in 1988 and nine helicopters were delivered.
 * VH-60M Black Hawk "Gold Top": Heavily modified UH-60M used for executive transport. Members of the Joint Chiefs, Congressional leadership, and other DoD personnel are flown on these exclusively by Alpha company 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Export versions

 * UH-60J Black Hawk: Variant for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Maritime Self Defense Force produced under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Also known as the S-70-12.
 * UH-60JA Black Hawk: Variant for the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. It is a license produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
 * AH-60L Arpía: Export version for Colombia developed by Elbit Systems, Sikorsky, and the Colombian Aerospace Force. It is Counter-insurgency (COIN) attack version with improved electronics, firing system, FLIR, radar, light rockets and machine guns.
 * AH-60L Battle Hawk: Export armed version unsuccessfully tendered for Australian Army project AIR87, similar to AH-60L Arpía III. Sikorsky has also offered a Battlehawk armed version for export in the form of armament kits and upgrades. Sikorsky's Armed Black Hawk demonstrator has tested a 20 mm turreted cannon, and different guided missiles. The United Arab Emirates ordered Battlehawk kits in 2011.
 * UH-60P Black Hawk: Version for South Korean Army, based on UH-60L with some improvements. Around 150 were produced under license by Korean Air.
 * S-70A Black Hawk: Sikorsky's designation for Black Hawk. The designation is often used for exports.
 * S-70A-1 Desert Hawk: Export version for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.
 * S-70A-L1 Desert Hawk: Aeromedical evacuation version for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.
 * S-70A-5 Black Hawk: Export version for the Philippine Air Force.
 * S-70A-6 Black Hawk: Export version for Thailand.
 * S-70A-9 Black Hawk: Export version for Australia, assembled under licence by Hawker de Havilland. The first eight were delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force, subsequently transferred to the Australian Army; the remainder were delivered straight to the Army after rotary-wing assets were divested by the Air Force in 1989.
 * S-70A-11 Black Hawk: Export version for the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
 * S-70A-12 Black Hawk: Search and rescue model for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Maritime Self Defense Force. Also known as the UH-60J.
 * S-70A-14 Black Hawk: Export version for Brunei.
 * S-70A-16 Black Hawk: Engine test bed for the Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM 332.
 * S-70A-17 Black Hawk: Export version for Turkey.
 * S-70A-18 Black Hawk: UH-60P and HH-60P for Republic of Korea Armed Forces built under license.
 * Sikorsky/Westland S-70-19 Black Hawk: This version is built under license in the United Kingdom by Westland. Also known as the WS-70.
 * S-70A-20 Black Hawk: VIP transport version for Thailand.
 * S-70A-21 Black Hawk: Export version for Egypt.
 * S-70A-22 Black Hawk: VH-60P for South Korea built under license. Used for VIP transport by the Republic of Korea Air Force. Its fuselage is tipped with white to distinguish it from normal HH-60P.
 * S-70A-24 Black Hawk: Export version for Mexico.
 * S-70A-26 Black Hawk: Export version for Morocco.
 * S-70A-27 Black Hawk: Export version for Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force and Hong Kong Government Flying Service; three built.
 * S-70A-28D Black Hawk: Export version for Turkish Army.
 * S-70A-30 Black Hawk: Export version for Argentine Air Force, used as a VIP transport helicopter by the Presidential fleet; one built.
 * S-70A-33 Black Hawk: Export version for Royal Brunei Air Force.
 * S-70A-39 Black Hawk: VIP transport version for Chile; one built.
 * S-70A-42 Black Hawk: Export version for Austria.
 * S-70A-43 Black Hawk: Export version for Royal Thai Army.
 * S-70A-50 Black Hawk: Export version for Israel; 15 built.
 * S-70C-2 Black Hawk: Export version for the People's Republic of China; 24 built.
 * S-70i Black Hawk: International military version assembled by Sikorsky's subsidiary, PZL Mielec in Poland.
 * S-70M Black Hawk: Modified military version assembled by Sikorsky's subsidiary, PZL Mielec in Poland from 2021.

 * See: Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk, Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk, Piasecki X-49, and Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk for other Sikorsky S-70 variants.

Operators
See SH-60 Seahawk, HH-60 Pave Hawk, and HH-60 Jayhawk for operators of military H-60/S-70 variants; see Sikorsky S-70 for non-military operators of other H-60/S-70 family helicopters.

 * 🇦🇫 Afghanistan
 * Taliban (captured from the Afghan Air Force in August 2021)
 * 🇦🇱 Albania
 * Albanian Air Force 2 (4 on order)
 * Australian Army - 14 and 25 in original orders in 1986 and 1987. Retired in 2021 with 5 lost. 40 ordered in 2023 for delivery in 2024.
 * Royal Australian Navy (see H-60 Seahawk)
 * Austrian Air Force
 * Royal Bahraini Air Force
 * Austrian Air Force
 * Royal Bahraini Air Force
 * Royal Bahraini Air Force
 * Brazilian Air Force
 * Brazilian Army
 * Brazilian Navy (see SH-60)
 * Brazilian Navy (see SH-60)
 * Royal Brunei Air Force S-70i
 * Chilean Air Force
 * People's Liberation Army
 * Colombian Aerospace Force AH-60L Arpía (24)
 * Colombian Army S-70i (7 as of 2013)
 * Croatian Air Force - 8 UH-60Ms being procured with 4 received as of March 2024. 8 more on order.
 * Egyptian Air Force
 * Hellenic Army - 35 UH-60M ordered on 5 April 2024.
 * Indonesian Army - 22 S-70M Black Hawks on order.
 * Croatian Air Force - 8 UH-60Ms being procured with 4 received as of March 2024. 8 more on order.
 * Egyptian Air Force
 * Hellenic Army - 35 UH-60M ordered on 5 April 2024.
 * Indonesian Army - 22 S-70M Black Hawks on order.
 * Hellenic Army - 35 UH-60M ordered on 5 April 2024.
 * Indonesian Army - 22 S-70M Black Hawks on order.
 * Indonesian Army - 22 S-70M Black Hawks on order.
 * Israeli Air Force
 * Israeli Air Force
 * Japan Air Self-Defence Force UH-60J
 * Japan Ground Self-Defence Force UH-60JA
 * Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force UH-60J (see also SH-60J/K/L)
 * Royal Jordanian Air Force
 * Royal Jordanian Air Force
 * Royal Jordanian Air Force
 * Latvian Air Force - UH-60M (2 received, another 2 on order)
 * Lithuanian Air Force - UH-60M (4 on order; deliveries to begin in late 2024.)
 * Malaysian Army - UH-60A+ (4 on lease, deliveries to begin in 2023)
 * Royal Malaysian Air Force
 * Mexican Air Force
 * Mexican Navy
 * Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
 * Mexican Air Force
 * Mexican Navy
 * Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
 * Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
 * Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
 * $\phi$
 * Philippine Air Force S-70i (21) (27 on order)
 * Polish Special Forces - 4 S-70i helicopters (4 on order)
 * Portuguese Air Force - UH-60A (9 ordered for aerial firefighting) Two received as of 2023.
 * Royal Saudi Air Force
 * Royal Saudi Land Forces
 * Saudi Arabian National Guard
 * Royal Saudi Navy
 * Republic of Korea Air Force
 * Republic of Korea Army UH-60P
 * Republic of Korea Navy
 * Slovak Air Force
 * Swedish Air Force
 * Republic of Korea Army UH-60P
 * Republic of Korea Navy
 * Slovak Air Force
 * Swedish Air Force
 * Swedish Air Force
 * Swedish Air Force
 * Republic of China Air Force
 * Republic of China Army
 * Republic of China Navy
 * Royal Thai Army UH-60L; UH-60M
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Royal Thai Navy (see SH-60)
 * Tunisian Air Force
 * Turkish Air Force - (6 T-70s on order) First unit delivered in January 2023.
 * Turkish Land Forces - 22+ T-70 ordered. First delivered
 * Special Forces Command(Turkey) - 6 T-70s ordered with deliveries underway.
 * Turkish Naval Forces (see Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk)
 * Gendarmerie General Command (Turkey) - 14 T-70s ordered with 3 delivered.
 * General Directorate of Security(Turkey) - 20 T-70s ordered
 * General Directorate of Forestry(Turkey) - 3 T-70s ordered with 2 delivered.
 * United Arab Emirates Air Force
 * Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine) - 2 UH-60As One more being crowdfunded for GUR by Czech supporters under the "Gift for Putin" (Dárek pro-Putina) initiative.
 * General Directorate of Security(Turkey) - 20 T-70s ordered
 * General Directorate of Forestry(Turkey) - 3 T-70s ordered with 2 delivered.
 * United Arab Emirates Air Force
 * Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine) - 2 UH-60As One more being crowdfunded for GUR by Czech supporters under the "Gift for Putin" (Dárek pro-Putina) initiative.
 * Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine) - 2 UH-60As One more being crowdfunded for GUR by Czech supporters under the "Gift for Putin" (Dárek pro-Putina) initiative.
 * Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine) - 2 UH-60As One more being crowdfunded for GUR by Czech supporters under the "Gift for Putin" (Dárek pro-Putina) initiative.
 * United States Air Force (see HH-60)
 * United States Army
 * United States Navy (see SH-60)
 * United States Coast Guard (see MH-60)
 * United States Department of State
 * United States Department of Homeland Security
 * United States Department of Homeland Security

Former operators
British Hong Kong
 * Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
 * Government Flying Service
 * Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
 * Afghan Air Force (until Aug. 2021)

Accidents

 * From 1981 to 1987, five Black Hawks crashed (killing or injuring all on board) while flying near radio broadcast towers because their electromagnetic emissions disrupted the helicopters' flight control systems. The Black Hawk helicopters were not hardened against high-intensity radiated fields, contrary to the SH-60 Seahawk Navy version. The pilots were instructed to fly away from emitters, and, in the long term, shielding was increased and backup systems were installed.
 * On 29 July 1992, one Australian Army Black Hawk collided into terrain near Oakey Army Aviation Centre. Killing two occupants.
 * On 3 March 1994, a UH-60 helicopter of the 15th Fighter Wing, Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) exploded above Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, killing all of the six personnel on board, including General Cho Kun-hae, then Chief of the Air Staff of South Korea.
 * On 14 April 1994, two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawks in northern Iraq were shot down by mistake by U.S. Air Force F-15s patrolling the northern no-fly zone that had been imposed after the 1991 Gulf War. Twenty-six crew and passengers were killed.
 * On 12 June 1996, two Australian Army Black Hawks collided during an Army night-time special forces counter-terrorism exercise resulting in the death of eighteen soldiers - fifteen members of the SASR and three from the 5th Aviation Regiment.
 * On 12 February 2001, two Black Hawks from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii collided during NVG formation flight training, causing loss of both aircraft, six deaths and 11 injured soldiers.
 * On 12 February 2004, one Australian Army Black Hawk collided into terrain in the vicinity of Mount Walker, Queensland following contact between the tail rotor and a tree. The airframe was written off however there were no deaths - six out of the eight occupants received injuries.
 * On 26 September 2004, a U.S. Army Black Hawk crashed taking off from Tallill Airbase (Nasiriyah Airport), Iraq. The crew of four was rescued.
 * On 29 November 2006, one Australian Army Black Hawk crashed into and subsequently slid off the deck of HMAS Kanimbla sinking into deep waters off the coast of Fiji whilst conducting a training flight. The sinking resulted in the deaths of two soldiers - one pilot from the 5th Aviation Regiment, and one trooper from the SASR.
 * On 10 March 2015, a UH-60 from Eglin Air Force Base crashed off the coast of the Florida Panhandle near the base. All eleven on board were killed.
 * On 16 February 2018, UH-60M helicopter deployed by the Mexican Air Force to Oaxaca after an earthquake, crashed into a group of people while attempting to land.
 * On 2 January 2020, a UH-60M helicopter of the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) in Taiwan, crashed on a mountainside, killing eight people on board, including General Shen Yi-ming, chief of the general staff of Republic of China's armed forces.
 * On 23 June 2021, a Philippine Air Force S-70i crashed in Capas town in Tarlac during a night flight training, killing all 6 crew members. The unit was newly delivered in November of the previous year or only almost 8 months old.
 * On 22 February 2022, two Utah National Guard Black Hawk helicopters crashed at the Snowbird, Utah ski resort during a training exercise. One Black Hawk was overcome by whiteout conditions caused by the downdraft in the snow, and crashed, causing parts of the rotor blades to strike the other helicopter, forcing a hard landing. There were no major injuries to the crew or skiers.
 * On July 16, 2022, one Mexican Navy Black Hawk crashed at Sinaloa, killing 14 marines on board.
 * In September 2022, a Black Hawk operated by the Taliban crashed during a training exercise in Kabul, killing three.
 * On February 15, 2023, a Black Hawk crashed killing two members of the Tennessee National Guard in Huntsville, Alabama.
 * On 29 March 2023, two US Army Black Hawk medical helicopters crashed during a training mission over Kentucky. All nine soldiers aboard were killed. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
 * On 10 November 2023, a US Army Black Hawk crashed off the coast of Cyprus in the Mediterranenan Sea. All 5 soldiers aboard were killed.

title: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk


text:
Domenico Cimarosa

Domenico Cimarosa (17 December 1749 – 11 January 1801) was an Italian composer of the Neapolitan School and of the Classical period. He wrote more than eighty operas, the best known of which is Il matrimonio segreto (1792); most of his operas are comedies. He also wrote instrumental works and church music.

Cimarosa was principally based in Naples, but spent some of his career in various other parts of Italy, composing for the opera houses of Rome, Venice, Florence and elsewhere. He was engaged by Catherine the Great of Russia as her court composer and conductor between 1787 and 1791. In his later years, returning to Naples, he backed the losing side in the struggle to overthrow the monarchy there, and was imprisoned and then exiled. He died in Venice at the age of 51.

Early years
Cimarosa was born in Aversa, a town near Naples. His family name was Cimmarosa, which is how he is recorded on his baptismal record. He appears to have been an only child. His father, Gennaro, was a stonemason, and within days of Domenico's birth the family moved to Naples where Gennaro found employment on the construction of the Palace of Capodimonte. When Domenico was seven, Gennaro fell from scaffolding and was killed. His widow, Anna, was taken on as a laundress by the monastic order of the Church of San Severo, and Cimarosa received a good education—including musical training—from the monks and clergy of the church. The organist of the monastery, Padre Polcano, took a particular interest in his education and Cimarosa progressed so well in his musical studies that he was admitted to Naples's leading college of music, the Conservatorio di S Maria di Loreto, in 1761, when he was twelve. His teachers were Gennaro Manna and Fedele Fenaroli for composition and Saverio Carcais, the maestro de violino. He was a capable keyboard player, violinist and singer, but composition was his primary concern as a student; in 1770 he, Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli and Giuseppe Giordani were senior students in the composition class.

As a student, Cimarosa wrote sacred motets and masses, but he first came to public notice with the premiere in 1772 of his first commedia per musica, Le stravaganze del conte, performed at the Teatro dei Fiorentini in Naples. The work met with approval, and was followed in the same year by Le pazzie di Stelladaura e di Zoroastro. This work was also successful, and the fame of the young composer began to spread all over Italy. In 1774, he was invited to Rome to write an opera for the stagione of that year; and there he produced another comic opera called L'italiana in Londra. In 1777 he married Constanza Suffi, who died the following year.

Successful composer
In the 1770s and 1780s Cimarosa wrote numerous operas for the theatres of Italy. He was best known for his comedies, but wrote serious works from time to time, including Caio Mario (1780) and Alessandro nell'Indie (1781). As well as stage works he wrote church music. He was appointed supernumerary organist of the Neapolitan royal court in November 1779, and by the early 1780s he was a visiting maestro at the Ospedaletto di Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice.

For Rome, he composed operas for three different theatres in the late 1780s and early 1780s; these works included Il ritorno di Don Calandrino, L'italiana in Londra, Le donne rivali, Il pittore parigino and for La Scala, Milan, following the success there of a revival of L'impresario in angustie, he composed La Circe, a dramma per musica in three acts, with a story loosely based on the Odyssey. At some point in the 1780s Cimarosa married for the second time; his wife, Gaetana, née Pallante, was Constanza's step-sister; she and Cimarosa had two sons. She died in 1796.

In 1787, Cimarosa went to Saint Petersburg at the invitation of Empress Catherine II. He was one of a succession of Italian composers engaged by the Russian court over the years; others were Vincenzo Manfredini (from 1762 to 1769), Baldassare Galuppi (1765–1768), Tommaso Traetta (1768–1775), Giovanni Paisiello (1776–1784), and Giuseppe Sarti (1785–1801). He composed a serious opera, Cleopatra, and revised two of his existing comic pieces Le donne rivali and I due baroni di Rocca Azzurra. Other compositions for Catherine's court included a Requiem, in G minor (1787). Cimarosa was less successful in Saint Petersburg than some of his compatriots; the works of his subordinate, Martin y Soler, gained more favour with the empress, and this, combined with economies that meant losing most of the Italian singers, and Cimarosa's dislike of the severe Russian winters, led him to leave Russia in June 1791.

After spending three months in Warsaw, Cimarosa arrived in Vienna. His music was already popular there, and the emperor, Leopold II, appointed him Kapellmeister to the court, and commissioned a new opera. The result was Il matrimonio segreto, to a text by Giovanni Bertati, based on the 1766 play, The Clandestine Marriage, by George Colman the Elder and David Garrick. The opera, performed at the Burgtheater on 7 February 1792, was so successful that Leopold had it played again the same evening in his private chambers – "the longest encore in operatic history" as one critic put it. Cimarosa did not consider the work his best, but it has a better libretto than some of his other comic operas, the plot clear, the characters well drawn and elaborate disguises and coincidences dispensed with. The composer's own favourite of his operas was Artemisia, regina di Caria, a serious work, composed for Naples five years later.

Later years
Cimarosa's success was international. He was, together with Paisiello, the most popular opera composer in the late 18th century. He composed 60 opere buffe and 20 opere serie, many of which quickly entered the repertoire of opera houses throughout Europe. They were performed in Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg, London, Prague and Stockholm, as well as Saint Petersburg, Vienna and all the main Italian cities. Between 1783 and 1790 Haydn conducted performances of thirteen Cimarosa operas for his employers at Schloss Esterházy and many of the pieces were given several times. Cimarosa's La ballerina amante, a commedia per musica first performed in Naples was chosen as the inaugural work at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Lisbon, in June 1793.

Three weeks after the premiere of Il matrimonio segreto the emperor Leopold died suddenly. His successor, Francis II, was less interested in music than Leopold had been, and in 1793, Cimarosa returned to Naples. In 1796 he was appointed principal organist of the royal chapel, and he continued to produce new operas and revise older ones. He reworked L'italiana in Londra and I due baroni, adapting them for local taste by adding sections in Neapolitan dialect. The most important new works from this last phase of his career were Le astuzie femminili (1794) and two serious operas, Penelope (1794) and Gli Orazi e i Curiazi (1796); the first two of these were composed for Naples, and the last for La Fenice in Venice.

During the occupation of Naples by the troops of the French Republic, in 1799 Cimarosa joined the liberal party, but the monarchy was soon restored, and took strong measures against those with liberal or revolutionary connections. Cimarosa was imprisoned along with many of his political friends, and escaped the death sentence only through the intercession of influential admirers, including Cardinals Consalvi and Ruffo and Lady Hamilton. He was exiled from Naples, and went to Venice. He was terminally ill by this time, probably with stomach cancer, and he died on 11 January 1801, aged 51, composing until almost the end. His last opera, Artemisia was left unfinished. A rumour spread that he had been poisoned by agents of the Bourbons, but an inquest showed it to be unfounded.

Works
Although Cimarosa wrote a considerable quantity of instrumental and church music, he was, and remains, best known for his operas. He was famous for his facility as a composer, although he frequently reused material, as was usual in his day, and employed assistants for routine tasks such as composing recitatives. In the article on Cimarosa in Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2001), Jennifer E. Johnson and Gordana Lazarevich write that he rose above the mediocrity of some the librettos he set and produced music "suffused with lightness, elegance and finesse".

Cimarosa avoided the rigidity of the traditional da capo aria, and wrote solo numbers consisting of more flexible divisions, with changes of tempo, metre and key to reflect the words of his librettists. Johnson and Lazarevich comment that this freedom of form conveys spontaneity and flexibility. Cimarosa's arias often speed up for the closing section, in the style of cabalettas. Providing contrast to the vocal display pieces, he often wrote quite simple arias in the manner of cavatinas. A feature of his scores is the sustained writing for concerted voices. In the words of the Grove article: "One of Cimarosa's strengths was the composition of witty and vivacious ensembles. Il matrimonio segreto, an ensemble opera in the style of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, is composed of eight arias, four duets, three trios, a quartet, a quintet and two finales featuring all six characters." Harmonically, Cimarosa was not innovative, remaining content with traditional diatonic conventions. In the view of Johnson and Lazarevich his musical strengths are to be found in "the richness of his melodic invention, the brilliance and energy of his rhythmic and melodic motifs and his constantly lively accompaniments".

Cimarosa's approach to orchestration developed over his career. His earlier works are generally written for strings, oboes, horns and trumpets, and occasionally bassoons and flutes. In these pieces the function of the orchestra is to provide discreet support for the voices. During his four years in Saint Petersburg, he began to use clarinets, and to orchestrate more fully and richly. Johnson and Lazarevich instance Il matrimonio segreto, in which a large orchestra "provides colour and exhibits independent motivic and rhythmic material that serves as commentary on the action".

Cimarosa wrote a number of piano sonatas, which were discovered in manuscript in the 1920s; the quantity has been asserted as over 80 single-movement works, but it is thought that many of these may in fact belong with each other as three-movement works. The work sometimes referred to as Cimarosa's "Concerto for oboe" is in fact a 1949 confection by Arthur Benjamin, consisting of arrangements of movements from the sonatas.

Reputation
Johnson and Lazarevich write that Cimarosa's reputation during his lifetime reached a height unsurpassed until Rossini's heyday, and he continued to be highly regarded into the 19th century. Eugène Delacroix preferred Cimarosa's music to Mozart's. He wrote of Il matrimonio segreto, "It is perfection itself. No other musician has this symmetry, this expressiveness and sense of the appropriate, this gaiety and tenderness, and above all … incomparable elegance". Stendhal wrote that Cimarosa, Mozart and Shakespeare were the only passions of his life. To Stendhal, Cimarosa was "the Molière of composers", and he claimed to have seen Il matrimonio segreto more than 100 times.

Hector Berlioz, who hated Italian opera, was not an admirer: "I should throw to the devil the unique and interminable Matrimonio Segreto, which is nearly as tiresome as The Marriage of Figaro without being anything like so musical." Robert Schumann was impressed by Cimarosa's "absolutely masterful" orchestration, but by little else. Eduard Hanslick praised Cimarosa's wonderful facility, masterly compositional strokes and good taste. "Full of sunshine – that is the right expression for Cimarosa's music".

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Domenico Cimarosa


text:
Giovanni Pacini

Giovanni Pacini (11 February 1796 – 6 December 1867) was an Italian composer, best known for his operas. Pacini was born in Catania, Sicily, the son of the buffo Luigi Pacini, who was to appear in the premieres of many of Giovanni's operas. The family was of Tuscan origin, living in Catania when the composer was born.

His first 25 or so operas were written when Gioachino Rossini dominated the Italian operatic stage. But Pacini's operas were "rather superficial", a fact which, later, he candidly admitted in his Memoirs. For some years he held the post of "director of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples." Later, retiring to Viareggio to found a school of music, Pacini took time to assess the state of opera in Italy and, during a five-year period during which he stopped composing, laid out his ideas in his Memoirs. Like Saverio Mercadante, who also reassessed the strength and weaknesses of this period in opera, Pacini's style did change, but he quickly became eclipsed by the rising influence of Giuseppe Verdi on the Italian operatic scene, and many of his operas appeared to be old fashioned and rarely, if ever, appeared outside of Italy." Pacini's work is largely forgotten today, although some recordings do exist.

Career as composer
During his lifetime, Pacini wrote some 74 operas. This is less than earlier estimates, which ranged from 80 to 90, since it has now been ascertained that many were just alternate titles for other works. It has been noted that he "bothered little about harmony and instrumentation", a fact supported by Rossini who once said: "God help us if he knew music. No one could resist him". Certainly, Pacini recognized Rossini's strengths and his dominance during this period: "Everyone followed the same school, the same fashions, and as a result they were all imitators of the great luminary .... If I was a follower of the great man from Pesaro, so was everyone else" After Rossini moved to Paris in 1824, Pacini and his contemporaries (Giacomo Meyerbeer, Nicola Vaccai, Michele Carafa, Carlo Coccia, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, the brothers Federico and Luigi Ricci, and Saverio Mercadante) collectively began to change the nature of Italian opera and took bel canto singing in a new direction. Orchestration became heavier, coloratura was reduced, especially for men's voices, and more importance was placed on lyrical pathos. While there were exceptions, romantic leads were assigned to tenors (in Rossini's time, they were frequently sung by alto or mezzo-soprano women). Villains became basses or later baritones (while they often were tenors for Rossini). Over time, far more emphasis was placed on the drama.

The role that Pacini played in instituting these changes is only now beginning to be recognized. There is little doubt that Pacini and his contemporary Nicola Vaccai exerted a stronger influence on Bellini than has been credited before. This change in attitude can be credited to the revival of two key works: Vaccai's Giulietta e Romeo and Pacini's L'ultimo giorno di Pompei, both composed in 1825 within a few weeks of each other.

The success of many of Pacini's lighter operas especially Il Barone di Dolsheim, La sposa fedele, and La schiava in Bagdad (all composed between 1818 and 1820) made Pacini one of the most prominent composers in Italy. His position was greatly enhanced by the rapid-fire successes of Alessandro nelle Indie (Naples, 1824, revised, Milan, 1826; given and recorded in London in November 2006), Amazilia (Naples 1824, revised, Vienna, 1827), and the previously mentioned L'Ultimo giorno di Pompei (Naples, 1825).

In Alessandro nelle Indie, the title role of Alessandro was created by a baritonal tenor, Andrea Nozzari, but it was sung by the much lighter-voiced Giovanni David at the Milan revival, indicating Pacini's desire to go in a new direction. Arabi nelle Gallie (Milan, 1827) reached many of the world's most important stages and was the first Pacini opera to be given in the United States. It was staged frequently in Italy, and it was not until 1830 that Bellini's first success, Il pirata (also Milan, 1827) passed Gli arabi nelle Gallie in number of performances at the Teatro alla Scala. While this is not generally recognized, it was Pacini, rather than Donizetti, Mercadante or Bellini, who gave Rossini the stiffest competition in Italy during the 1820s.

Many operas followed that are almost completely forgotten. However, one of these, Il corsaro (Rome, 1831) was revived 173 years later, in 2004, albeit only with piano accompaniment. This work is different in many ways from Verdi's later opera by the same name. The title role, Corrado, is a musico role for an alto, and the villainous Seid is a tenor.

However, first Bellini and then Donizetti outstripped Pacini in fame. Many of his later operas, such as Carlo di Borgogna of 1835, were failures, but this is one of the few Pacini operas currently available on CD, and it has received many warm reviews. Pacini himself was the first to recognize his apparent defeat noted in memoirs: "I began to realize that I must withdraw from the field. Bellini, the divine Bellini, has surpassed me." Some years later, he resumed composing, and, after one more setback, enjoyed his greatest triumph with Saffo (Naples, 1840).

After Saffo, Pacini entered into another period of prominence. Donizetti had departed for Paris, Bellini had died, and Mercadante's major successes were behind him, thus Verdi offered the only important competition. Pacini's successes during this time period include La fidanzata corsa (Naples, 1842), Maria, regina d'Inghilterra (Palermo, 1843), Medea (Palermo, 1843 with several later revisions, the last of which was in Naples in 1853), Lorenzino de' Medici (Venice, 1845), Bondelmonte (Florence, 1845), Stella di Napoli (Naples,1845) and La regina di Cipro (Turin, 1846). Allan Cameron (Venice, 1848) is noteworthy because it deals with the youth of King Charles II, before he was crowned King of England. In contrast—by 1844—Verdi had written Nabucco, I Lombardi, and Ernani, thus outstripping Pacini.

This period of accomplishments was followed by a long but slow decline, marked only by the moderate successes of La punizione (Venice, 1854), Il saltimbanco (Rome, 1858), and Niccolò de' Lapi (Florence, 1873).

Pacini died in Pescia, Tuscany in 1867. During his lifetime, he produced much music of high caliber. His output of more than 70 stage works is staggering even compared to Rossini (41 operas) and Handel (43 operas), and he will always be remembered, with Donizetti, as one of the most prolific composers in the history of opera.

title: Giovanni Pacini


text:
Giovanni Paisiello

Giovanni Paisiello (or Paesiello; 9 May 1740 – 5 June 1816) was an Italian composer of the Classical era, and was the most popular opera composer of the late 1700s. His operatic style influenced Mozart and Rossini.

Life
Paisiello was born in Taranto in the Apulia region and educated by the Jesuits there. He became known for his beautiful singing voice and in 1754 was sent to the Conservatorio di S. Onofrio at Naples, where he studied under Francesco Durante, and eventually became assistant master. For the theatre of the Conservatorio, which he left in 1763, he wrote some intermezzi, one of which attracted so much notice that he was invited to write two operas, La Pupilla and Il Mondo al Rovescio, for Bologna, and a third, Il Marchese di Tidipano, for Rome.

His reputation now firmly established, he settled for some years at Naples, where, despite the popularity of Niccolò Piccinni, Domenico Cimarosa and Pietro Guglielmi, of whose triumphs he was bitterly jealous, he produced a series of highly successful operas, one of which, L'idolo cinese, made a deep impression upon the Neapolitan public. The young Mozart and his father met him in Bologna in 1771.

In 1772 Paisiello began to write church music and composed a requiem for Gennara di Borbone, of the reigning dynasty. In the same year, he married Cecilia Pallini, and the marriage was a happy one. In 1776 Paisiello was invited by the empress Catherine the Great of Russia to Saint Petersburg, where he remained for eight years, producing, among other charming works, his masterpiece, Il barbiere di Siviglia, which soon attained a European reputation. The fate of this opera marks an epoch in the history of Italian art; for with it the gentle suavity cultivated by the masters of the 18th century died out to make room for the dazzling brilliance of a later period.

When, in 1816, Gioachino Rossini set a revised version of the libretto to music, under the title of Almaviva ossia la inutil precauzione the fans of Paisiello stormed the stage. Rossini's opera, now known as Il barbiere di Siviglia, is now acknowledged as Rossini's greatest work, while Paisiello's opera is only infrequently produced—a strange instance of poetical vengeance since Paisiello himself had many years previously endeavoured to eclipse the fame of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi by resetting the libretto of his famous intermezzo, La serva padrona.

Paisiello left Russia in 1784, and, after producing Il Re Teodoro at Vienna, entered the service of Ferdinand IV of Naples, where he composed many of his best operas, including Nina and La Molinara.

The Irish tenor Michael Kelly witnessed another meeting between Paisiello and Mozart when he visited Vienna later that year. Mozart had just finished a string of piano concertos, K. 449 and 453, written for his pupil Barbara Ployer. When Ployer’s father arranged a performance at his summer estate in Döbling, Mozart wrote to his father, "Fräulein Babette will play her new concerto in G and I shall play the Quintet and then we’ll perform together the grand sonata for two pianos. I shall fetch Paisiello with my carriage for I want him to hear my compositions as well as my pupil."

After many vicissitudes, resulting from political and dynastic changes, he was invited to Paris (1802) by Napoleon, whose favour he had won five years previously by composing a march for the funeral of General Hoche. Napoleon treated him munificently, while cruelly neglecting two more famous composers, Luigi Cherubini and Étienne Méhul, to whom the new favourite transferred the hatred he had formerly borne to Cimarosa, Guglielmi and Piccinni.

"Paisiello conducted the music of the court in the Tuileries with a stipend of 10,000 francs and 4,800 for lodging, but he entirely failed to conciliate the Parisian public, who received his opera Proserpine so coldly that, in 1803, he requested and with some difficulty obtained permission to return to Italy, upon the plea of his wife's ill health. On his arrival at Naples Paisiello was reinstated in his former appointments by Joseph Bonaparte and Joachim Murat, but he had taxed his genius beyond its strength and was unable to meet the demands now made upon it for new ideas. His prospects, too, were precarious. The power of the Bonaparte family was tottering to its fall, and Paisiello's fortunes fell with it. The death of his wife in 1815 tried him severely. His health failed rapidly, and constitutional jealousy of the popularity of others was a source of worry and vexation."

Paisiello is known to have composed 94 operas, which are known for their gracefully beautiful melodies. Perhaps the best-known tune he ever wrote is "Nel cor più non mi sento" from La Molinara, immortalized when Beethoven composed piano variations based on it. Paganini also wrote violin variations based on the same tune. Another favourite vocal piece is "Chi vuol la zingarella" from I zingari in fiera, which vividly portrays the scene of an attractive gypsy girl with its dramatic music. Paisiello also wrote a great deal of church music, including eight masses; as well as fifty-one instrumental compositions and many stand-alone songs. He also composed the Inno al Re, the national anthem of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Manuscript scores of many of his operas were presented to the library of the British Museum by Domenico Dragonetti.

The library of the Gerolamini at Naples possesses an interesting manuscript compilation recording Paisiello's opinions on contemporary composers, and exhibiting him as a somewhat severe critic, especially of the work of Pergolesi.

The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music notes that "Paisiello was one of the most successful and influential opera composers of his time. Most of his over 80 operas are comic and use a simple, direct and spirited style, latterly with sharper characterization, more colourful scoring and warmer melodies (features that influenced Mozart). His serious operas have less than the conventional amount of virtuoso vocal writing; those for Russia are the closest to Gluck's 'reform' approach.

Operas

 * R 1.00 La moglie in calzoni (18.2.1764, Modena)
 * R 1.01 Il ciarlone (12.5.1764, Bologna) – lost
 * R 1.02 I francesi brillanti (24.6.1764, Bologna)
 * R 1.03 Madama l'umorista, o Gli stravaganti (26.1.1765, Modena) – lost
 * R 1.04 L'amore in ballo (carnival 1765, Venice S Moisè)
 * R 1.05 La mascherata delle nozze di Bacco e d'Arianna (11.2.1765, Modena)
 * I bagni d'Abano (spring 1765, Parma)
 * Il negligente (1765, Parma)
 * Pulcinella vendicato nel ritorno di marechiaro (1765, Naples, Teatro Bellini)
 * R 1.05a Le virtuose ridicole (1765, Parma)
 * R 1.06 Le nozze disturbate (carnival 1776, Venice S Moisè)
 * R 1.07 Le finte contesse (2.1766, Rome Valle) [Il Marchese di Tulissano?]
 * R 1.08 La vedova di bel genio (spring 1766, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.09 Le 'mbroglie de le Bajasse (carnival 1767, Naples) – lost
 * R 1.09a La serva fatta padrona (summer 1769, Naples) 2nd version of Le 'mbroglie de le Bajasse
 * R 1.10 L'idolo cinese (spring 1767, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.11 Licenza to L'idolo cinese
 * R 1.12 Lucio Papirio dittatore (summer 1767, Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.13 Il furbo malaccorto (winter 1767, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.14 Alceste in Ebuda, ovvero Olimpia (20.1.1768, Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.15 Le nozze di Peleo e Tetide (31.5.1768, Naples PR) [Festa teatrale in musica]
 * R 1.16 Licenza to Peleo
 * R 1.17 La luna abitata (summer 1768, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.18 La finta maga per vendetta (autumn? 1768, Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.19 L'osteria di Marechiaro (winter 1768, Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.20 La Claudia vendicata (performed as act III of L'osteria 1770, Naples)
 * R 1.21 Don Chisciotte della Mancia (summer 1769, Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.22 L'arabo cortese (winter 1769 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.23 La Zelmira, o sia La marina del Granatello (summer 1770 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.24 Le trame per amore (7.10.1770 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.25 Demetrio (Lent 1771, Modena)
 * R 1.26 Annibale in Torino (16.1.1771 Turin, Teatro Regio di Torino)
 * R 1.27 La somiglianza de' nomi (spring 1771 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.28 and 1.29 I scherzi d'amore e di fortuna (summer 1771 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.30 Artaserse (26.12.1771 Modena)
 * R 1.31 Semiramide in villa (carnival 1772 Rome, Teatro Capranica)
 * R 1.32 Motezuma (1.1772 Rome, Dame)
 * R 1.33 La Dardanè (spring 1772 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.34 Gli amante comici (autumn 1772 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * Don Anchise Campanone (1773 Venice) [rev. Gli amante comici]
 * R 1.35 L'innocente fortunata (carnival 1773 Venice S Moisè)
 * R 1.36 Sismano nel Mogol (carnival 1773 Milan, Teatro Regio Ducale)
 * R 1.37 Il tamburo (spring 1773 Naples, Teatro Nuovo) [Il tamburo notturno]
 * R 1.38 La semplice fortunata (summer 1773, Naples)
 * R 1.39 Alessandro nell'Indie (26.12.1773 Modena) – fragment
 * R 1.40 Andromeda (carnival 1774 Milan, Teatro Regio Ducale)
 * R 1.41 Il duello (spring 1774 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.42 Il credulo deluso (autumn 1774 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.43 La frascatana (autumn 1774 Venice, S Samuele) [L'infante de Zamora]
 * R 1.44 Il divertimento dei numi (4.12.1774 Naples, Reale)
 * R 1.45 Demofoonte (carnival 1775 Venice, S Benedetto)
 * R 1.46 La discordia fortunata (carnival 1775 Venice, S Samuele) [L'avaro deluso]
 * R 1.47 Le astuzie amorose (spring 1775 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.48 Socrate immaginario (autumn 1775 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.49 Il gran Cid (3.11.1775 Florence, Teatro La Pergola)
 * R 1.50 Le due contesse (3.1.1776 Rome, Teatro Capranica in Palazzo alla Valle)
 * R 1.51 La disfatta di Dario (carnival 1776 Rome, Teatro Argentina)
 * R 1.52 Dal finto il vero (spring 1776 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
 * R 1.53 Il finto spettro (26.12.1776, Mannheim)
 * R 1.54 Nitteti (28.1.1777 St. Petersburg)
 * R 1.55 Lucinda e Armidoro (autumn 1777 St. Petersburg)
 * R 1.56 Achille in Sciro (6.2.1778 St. Petersburg)
 * R 1.57 Lo sposo burlato (24.7.1778 St. Petersburg)
 * R 1.58 Gli astrologi immaginari (14.2.1779 St. Petersburg, Hermitage) [I filosofi immaginari], [Le philosophe imaginaire]
 * R 1.59 Demetrio (13.6.1779, Tsarskoye Selo)
 * R 1.60 Il matrimonio inaspettato (1779 Kammenïy Ostrov) [La contadina di spirito]
 * R 1.61 La finta amante (5.6.1780 Mogilev) [Camiletta]
 * R 1.62 Alcide al bivio (6.12.1780 St. Petersburg, Hermitage)
 * R 1.63 La serva padrona (10?.9.1781 Tsarskoye Selo)
 * Il duello comico (1782 Tsarskoye Selo) [rev. Il duello]
 * R 1.64 Il barbiere di Siviglia, ovvero La precauzione inutile (26.9.1782 St. Petersburg)
 * R 1.65 Il mondo della luna (1782 Kammenïy Ostrov)
 * R 1.66 Il re Teodoro in Venezia (23.8.1784 Vienna, Burg)
 * R 1.67 Antigono (12.10.1785 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.68 L'amor ingegnoso, o sia La giovane scaltra (carnival 1785 Padua)
 * R 1.69 La grotta di Trofonio (12.1785 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.70 Olimpiade (20.1.1786 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.71 Le gare generose (spring 1786 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [Gli schiavi per amore; Le bon maître, ou L'esclave par amour]
 * R 1.72 Pirro (12.1.1787 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * Il barbiere di Siviglia, ovvero La precauzione inutile [rev] (1787 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.73 Giunone e Lucina (8.9.1787 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.74 La modista raggiratrice (autumn 1787 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [La scuffiara amante, o sia Il maestro di scuola napolitano; La scuffiara raggiratrice]
 * R 1.75 Fedra (1.1.1788 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.76 L'amor contrastato (carnival 1789 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [L'amor contrastato o sia La molinarella]
 * R 1.77 Catone in Utica (5.2.1789 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.78 Nina, o sia La pazza per amore (25.6.1789 Caserta)
 * R 1.79 I zingari in fiera (21.11.1789 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.80 Le vane gelosie (spring 1790 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.81 Zenobia in Palmira (30.5.1790 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * La molinara (1790 Vienna) [rev. L'amor contrastato]
 * Nina, o sia La pazza per amore [rev] (1790 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.82 Ipermestra (6.1791 Padua)
 * R 1.83 La locanda (16.6.1791 London Pantheon) [La locanda di falcone; Lo stambo in Berlina]
 * R 1.84 I giuochi d'Agrigento (16.5.1792 Venice, Fenice)
 * Il fanatico in Berlina (1792 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [rev. La locanda]
 * R 1.85 Il ritorno d'Idomeneo in Creta (autumn 1792 Perugia) – lost
 * R 1.86 Elfrida (4.11.1792 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo) [Adevolto]
 * R 1.87 Elvira (12.1.1794 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.88 Didone abbandonata (4.11.1794 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * Nina, o sia La pazza per amore [rev 2] (1795 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * Chi la dura la vince (9.6.1797 Milan S)
 * R 1.89 La Daunia felice (26.6.1797 Foggia, Palazzo Dogana)
 * R 1.90 Andromaca (4.11.1797 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
 * R 1.91 L'inganno felice (1798 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
 * R 1.92 L'isola disabitata (3.7.1799, Lisbon) – lost
 * R 1.93 La Pace
 * R 1.94 Proserpine (28.3.1803 Paris, Opéra)
 * R 1.95 Elisa (19.3.1807 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo) [+ Mayr]
 * R 1.96 I pittagorici (19.3.1808 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)

Secular cantatas

 * R 2.01 – L'Ebone (lost)
 * R 2.02 – La sorpresa delli Dei (lost)
 * R 2.03 – 2 Notturni
 * R 2.04 – La Partenza
 * R 2.05 – La Libertà e Palinodia a Nice
 * R 2.06 – Il Ritorno di Perseo
 * R 2.07 – Amor vendicato
 * R 2.08 – Il Genio Poetico Appagato
 * R 2.09 – Cantata epitalamica (lost)
 * R 2.10 – Canone a 4 voci
 * R 2.11 – Le nozze di Silvio e Clori
 * R 2.12 – La Volontaria
 * R 2.13 – Il mio bene, il mio tesoro
 * R 2.14 – Birthday Cantata for Prince Felice of Lucca
 * R 2.15 – Tirsi a Fille
 * R 2.16 – Fille a Tirsi
 * R 2.17 – La Lontananza di Tirsi
 * R 2.18 – La scusa
 * R 2.19 – Riede omai la nuova aurora
 * R 2.20 – 3 Notturni for 2 sopranos

Oratorios, passions and sacred cantatas

 * R 3.01 – Jephte sacrificium (lost)
 * R 3.02 – La Passione di Nostro Signor Gesù Cristo
 * R 3.03 – Passio secundum Mattheum
 * R 3.04 – Passio di San Giovanni
 * R 3.05 – Il transito di San Luigi Gansaga
 * R 3.06 – Cantata fatta in occasione della transalazione del sangue di S. Gennaro
 * R 3.07 – Baldassare
 * R 3.08 – Cantata per la Sollenit‡ del SS. Corpo di Cristo
 * R 3.09 – Cantata per la transalazione del sangue del glorioso martire S. Gennaro
 * R 3.10 – Il fonte prodigioso di Orebre (lost)
 * R 3.11 – Passio per la domenica delle Palme
 * R 3.12 – Passio per il venerdi Santo

Sacred music for rulers' chapels
Works composed for Napoleon's or King Joseph's chapels.
 * R 4.01 – Virgam virtutis tuae in F major
 * R 4.02 – Mass in F major
 * R 4.03 – Absit sonitus tubae in D major
 * R 4.04 – Mass in A major
 * R 4.05 – Veni ferox, veni in G minor
 * R 4.06 – Mass in C major
 * R 4.07 – Splendete o coeli in G major
 * R 4.08 – Mass in G major
 * R 4.09 – Coeli stella amica in E-flat major
 * R 4.10 – Mass in F major
 * R 4.11 – Non est in vita amara in C major
 * R 4.12 – Mass in B-flat major
 * R 4.13 – Messa in Pastorale per il Natale in G major
 * R 4.14 – Mass for Passion and Palm Sundays in F major
 * R 4.15 – Veni sancte spiritus in E-flat major
 * R 4.16 – Mass for the coronation of Napoleon I in B-flat major
 * R 4.17 – Deh resplende o clara stella in D major
 * R 4.18 – Gratiae sint Deo devotae in E-flat major
 * R 4.19 – Splendete o coeli in G major
 * R 4.20 – Sitibundi desolati in D minor
 * R 4.21 – Alma fax et casti in E-flat major
 * R 4.22 – Mass in D major
 * R 4.23 – Ne lucem Bene in B-flat major
 * R 4.24 – Altas Olympi fores in A major
 * R 4.25 – Rosae lux e coelo in A major
 * R 4.26 – Mass in F major
 * R 4.27 – Vivat Deus in C major
 * R 4.28 – Si mare ferox murmurat in F major
 * R 4.29 – Coeli stella amica in E-flat major
 * R 4.30 – Non est in vita amara in C major
 * R 4.31 – Heu nos jam velum in E-flat major
 * R 4.32 – Quis est? in C major
 * R 4.33 – Mass in C major
 * R 4.34 – Absit sonitus tubae in D major
 * R 4.35 – In tuo beato ardore in G major
 * R 4.36 – O mortales summo ardore in D major
 * R 4.37 – Mass in D major
 * R 4.38 – Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in G major (1809)
 * R 4.39 – Sagro trattenimento musicale in B-flat major
 * R 4.40 – Sagro componimento musicale in C major
 * R 4.41 – Sagro componimento musicale in G major
 * R 4.42 – Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in G major (1811)
 * R 4.43 – Mass in E-flat major
 * R 4.44 – Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in C major
 * R 4.45 – Mass in B-flat major
 * R 4.46 – Te Deum breve in G major
 * R 4.47 – Laudate pueri in E minor
 * R 4.48 – Salvum fac Domine in B-flat major

Masses (other than those for rulers' chapels)

 * R 5.01 – Missa Defunctorum in C minor
 * R 5.02 – Mass in G major
 * R 5.03 – Mass in D major
 * R 5.04 – Mass in F major
 * R 5.05 – Mass in D major
 * R 5.06 – Mass in B-flat major
 * R 5.07 – Agnus Dei in G major
 * R 5.08 – Mass in F major
 * R 5.09 – Mass in C major
 * R 5.10 – Mass in F major
 * R 5.11 – Mass in C major (doubtful)

Pieces for the Mass Ordinary

 * R 5.51 – Introit, offertory and communion for the mass in F major
 * R 5.52 – Introit, kyrie and offertory
 * R 5.53 – Introit, gradual, offertory, post-communion and responsory
 * R 5.54 – Gradual: Omnes de Saba venient in G major
 * R 5.55 – Offertory: Te gloriosus chorus in D major

Psalms, hymns or antiphons used during Mass

 * R 5.56 – Veni sancte spiritus in D major
 * R 5.57 – Exsulta jam cor meum in D major
 * R 5.58 – Stabat Mater del Pergolese in C minor
 * R 5.59 – Libera me Domine in D minor
 * R 5.60 – Caro mea vere est cibus in B-flat major
 * R 5.61 – Benedictus Rex in B-flat major

Psalms, canticles, hymns or antiphons

 * R 6.01 – Te Deum in B-flat major
 * R 6.02 – Te Deum in C major
 * R 6.03 – Hymn: O salutaris hostia in A major
 * R 6.04 – Dixit Dominus in A major
 * R 6.05 – Antiphon: Domine ad adjuvandum in F major
 * R 6.06 – Dixit Dominus in F major
 * R 6.07 – Antiphon: Domine ad adjuvandum in G major
 * R 6.08 – Dixit Dominus in C major
 * R 6.09 – Dixit Dominus in D major
 * R 6.10 – Dixit Dominus in G major
 * R 6.11 – Dixit Dominus in D major
 * R 6.12 – Dixit Dominus in G major
 * R 6.13 – Psalm: Confitebor tibi in A major
 * R 6.14 – Psalm: Laudate pueri in E-flat major
 * R 6.15 – Psalm: Laudate pueri in C major
 * R 6.16 – Psalm: Laudate pueri in C major
 * R 6.17 – Psalm: Laetatus sum in D minor
 * R 6.18 – Psalm: Magnificat in C major
 * R 6.19 – Psalm: Magnificat in G major
 * R 6.20 – Litany in G major
 * R 6.21 – Responsoria Nativitatis Domini in E minor
 * R 6.22 – Responsori per la settimana santa
 * R 6.23 – Responsori per Giovedi Santo
 * R 6.24 – Responsori per Venerdi Santo
 * R 6.25 – Lamentazione prima in C major
 * R 6.26 – Lamentazione seconda in G major
 * R 6.26 – Lamentazione terza in F major
 * R 6.28 – Lezione per la sera del Giovedi Santo
 * R 6.29 – Christus factus est in A minor
 * R 6.30 – Miserere a 5 in D minor
 * R 6.31 – Hymn: Pange lingua in C minor
 * R 6.32 – Hymn: Tantum ergo in A major
 * R 6.33 – 3 Tantum ergo for soprano
 * R 6.34 – Hymn: Tantum ergo in C major
 * R 6.35 – Antiphon: Benedicat in F major
 * R 6.36 – Antiphon: Regina coeli in B-flat major
 * R 6.37 – Antiphon: Salve Regina in E-flat major
 * R 6.38 – Antiphon: Ave maris stella in F major

Motets
(to be completed)
 * R 7.01 – Motet: Astra coeli in C major
 * R 7.02 – Motet: O luminosa aurora in G major
 * R 7.03 – Motet: In corde intrepido in C major
 * R 7.04 – Motet: Mille furis in C major
 * R 7.05 – Motet: Absit sonitus in D major

Instrumental works

 * R 8.01 – String Quartet No.1 in C major
 * R 8.02 – String Quartet No.2 in A major
 * R 8.03 – String Quartet No.3 in D major
 * R 8.04 – String Quartet No.4 in E-flat major
 * R 8.05 – String Quartet No.5 in E flat major
 * R 8.06 – String Quartet No.6 in C major
 * R 8.07 – String Quartet No.7 in E-flat major
 * R 8.08 – String Quartet No.8 in G major
 * R 8.09 – String Quartet No.9 in A major
 * R 8.10 – Keyboard Concerto No.1 in C major
 * R 8.11 – Keyboard Concerto No.2 in F major
 * R 8.12 – 4 Divertimenti for winds in E-flat major
 * R 8.13 – 12 Divertimenti for winds
 * R 8.14 – Collection of rondos and capriccios for keyboard
 * R 8.15 – Keyboard Concerto No.3 in A major
 * R 8.16 – Keyboard Concerto No.4 in G minor
 * R 8.17 – Keyboard Concerto No.5 in D major
 * R 8.18 – Keyboard Concerto No.6 in B-flat major
 * R 8.19 – Keyboard Concerto No.7 in A major
 * R 8.20 – Keyboard Concerto No.8 in C major
 * R 8.21 – Violin Sonata in E major
 * R 8.22 – Marche funèbre pour le Général Hoche in C minor
 * R 8.23 – Andante for horn and harp in C major
 * R 8.24 – 3 Pieces for Military Band
 * R 8.25 – Symphony in C major

Works of doubtful authenticity

 * R E.02 – Sinfonia in E-flat major
 * R E.06 – Flute Quartet Op. 23 No.2 in D major
 * R E.07 – Flute Quartet Op. 23 No.5 in G major
 * R E.08 – Flute Quartet Op. 23 No.4 in G major
 * R E.09 – Flute Quartet Op. 23 No.1 in C major
 * R E.10 – Flute Quartet Op. 23 No.3 in E minor
 * R E.11 – Flute Quartet Op. 23 No.6 in G major
 * R E.13 – Marche du Premier Consul in B-flat major
 * R E.14 – Mandolin concerto in E-flat major
 * R E.15 – Mandolin concerto in C major
 * R E.16 – Mandolin concerto in G major

Educational treatises

 * Regole per bene accompagnare il partimento o sia il basso fondamentale sopra il Cembalo
 * 298 Disposizione over partimenti by Giovanni Paisiello, in two large handwritten volumes. Presumably written by his student in composition Auguste Louis de Talleyrand. The name 'Taleyrand' appears on the inside of the cover of volume 2. Besides the 45 partimenti from Paisiello's Regole per bene accompagnare, the Taleyrand dispositions contain 41 partimenti that had not been previously known. These volumes are preserved in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (F-Pn Rés Vmb Ms. 10/1 and 10/2).

Editions

 * Stefano Faglia, Franca Saini (ed.): Il Mondo della Luna, Saint Petersburg, 1783. Monza, Accademia Musicale IAMR, 2006. Parma, L'oca del Cairo Edizioni Musicali, 2006.

title: Giovanni Paisiello