Annibale Pio Fabri (Bologna, 1697 â€" 12 August 1760, Lisbon), also
known as Balino, from Annibalino, diminutive of his first name, was an
Italian composer and singer of the 18th century. One of the leading
tenors of his age in a time dominated by the castrati, Fabri is now
best known for his association with the composer George Frideric
Handel, in whose operas Fabri sang.He was one of many famous pupils of
the composer, singer and teacher Francesco Pistocchi. His dramatic
career began in 1711 in Rome, and during the course of the decade he
sang at Venice, Bologna, and Mantua, creating, among others, the title
role in Vivaldi's L'incoronazione di Dario. He joined the Accademia
Filarmonica as a composer of oratorio circa 1719, and during the 1720s
he reached the upper echelons of the Italian singers of the time,
singing in works by Leonardo Vinci and Domenico Sarro (for whom he
created the role of Araspe in Didone abbandonata) at Naples
(1722â€"1724) and by Alessandro Scarlatti (Bologna, 1724). In 1729 he
joined Handel in London for two seasons, making his début in Lotario
and creating roles in Partenope and Poro. In his time in London, Fabri
also performed in revivals of Giulio Cesare, Tolomeo, Rinaldo,
Rodelinda, and Scipione, in which Handel transposed for tenor the
originally castrato title role.Leaving London in 1731, Fabri appeared
at Vienna in 1732, where he made the acquaintance of the Emperor
Charles VI, who in the next year became a godfather to one of Fabri's
sons. He continued to perform across Europe, having considerable
success in three operas by Johann Adolph Hasse at Madrid
(1738â€"1739). Fabri seems to have retired from the stage around 1750,
becoming a member of Lisbon's royal chapel until his death in 1760.
His compositional output from this time included a setting of the
popular Metastasio libretto Alessandro nell'Indie.
known as Balino, from Annibalino, diminutive of his first name, was an
Italian composer and singer of the 18th century. One of the leading
tenors of his age in a time dominated by the castrati, Fabri is now
best known for his association with the composer George Frideric
Handel, in whose operas Fabri sang.He was one of many famous pupils of
the composer, singer and teacher Francesco Pistocchi. His dramatic
career began in 1711 in Rome, and during the course of the decade he
sang at Venice, Bologna, and Mantua, creating, among others, the title
role in Vivaldi's L'incoronazione di Dario. He joined the Accademia
Filarmonica as a composer of oratorio circa 1719, and during the 1720s
he reached the upper echelons of the Italian singers of the time,
singing in works by Leonardo Vinci and Domenico Sarro (for whom he
created the role of Araspe in Didone abbandonata) at Naples
(1722â€"1724) and by Alessandro Scarlatti (Bologna, 1724). In 1729 he
joined Handel in London for two seasons, making his début in Lotario
and creating roles in Partenope and Poro. In his time in London, Fabri
also performed in revivals of Giulio Cesare, Tolomeo, Rinaldo,
Rodelinda, and Scipione, in which Handel transposed for tenor the
originally castrato title role.Leaving London in 1731, Fabri appeared
at Vienna in 1732, where he made the acquaintance of the Emperor
Charles VI, who in the next year became a godfather to one of Fabri's
sons. He continued to perform across Europe, having considerable
success in three operas by Johann Adolph Hasse at Madrid
(1738â€"1739). Fabri seems to have retired from the stage around 1750,
becoming a member of Lisbon's royal chapel until his death in 1760.
His compositional output from this time included a setting of the
popular Metastasio libretto Alessandro nell'Indie.
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