Venanzio Rauzzini

Venanzio Rauzzini ( born December 19, 1746 Camerino, † April 8, 1810 in Bath ) was an Italian soprano castrato, pianist and composer.

Life

Venanzio Rauzzini began his education at the Sistine Chapel in Rome, he was a pupil of Domenico Corri, Muzio Clementi and the castrato Giuseppe Santarelli ( 1710-1790 ). Later he studied with Nicola Porpora in Naples. He made his opera debut at the Teatro Valle in Rome, in a female role of Niccolò Piccinni's opera Il finto astrologo. In 1766 he sang at the Teatro San Samuele in Venice and in the same and subsequent years at the Munich Court Opera, where he sang a role in the opera Siroe of Traetta to Carnival. End of 1767, he gave concerts at the Viennese court, in addition to his commitment, he continued to perform regularly Munich in Italy. 1773 he met in Milan Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart know when Rauzzini sang the role of Cecilio in the premiere of the opera Lucio Silla. Inspired Mozart composed especially for him the Exsultate, jubilate (K. 165, KV6 158a ). In the 1770s he was very successful in London, from 1774 to 1778, the year in which he retired as a singer from the opera stage, he sang at the Kings Theatre.

After his operatic career worked in the spa town of Bath as a vocal and piano teacher, important pupils were John Braham and Stephen Storace ( 1762-1796 ). According to Charles Burney's statement had a Rauzzini living expenses as a prince, he received in his house numerous musicians, including Joseph Haydn. Burney spoke highly of Rauzzinis singing, but was particularly surprised by its virtuosity as a pianist.

In Bath Rauzzini composed his operas and appeared as a conductor in concerts in appearance. Before his death, he published as an educational work the 24 Solfeggi, or Exercices for the Voice (London, 1808)

Work (selection)

Apart from his operas composed Rauzzini a Requiem (1801 ), several cantatas, 12 sonatas for piano and violin, op 1, 6 String Quartets, Op 2, 12 piano quartets Op 6, 4 sonatas ( Duet) for piano, Op 12, Symphony in D Major and other works for piano and vocal duets.

Operas

• Piramo e Tisbe, libretto, Ranieri de ' Calzabigi, (London, His Majesty's Theatre, March 16, 1775)
• L' ali d' amore, libretto, Carlo Francesco Badini (1776 )
• L' eroe cinese, libretto, Pietro Metastasio ( 1782 )
• Creusa in Delfo, libretto, Gaspare Martinelli (1783 )
• Alina ossia La regina di Golconda, libretto Antonio Andrei (1784 )
• La vestale, libretto, Carlo Francesco Badini (1787 )