Antonio Maria Bernacchi (23 June 1685 â€" 1 March 1756) was an Italian
castrato, composer, and teacher of singing. He studied with Francesco
Antonio Pistocchi. His pupils included Farinelli, for a brief period
during 1727, and the tenor Anton Raaff. Nowadays Bernacchi is best
remembered for his association with the composer George Frideric
Handel, in six of whose operas he sang.Bernacchi was born in Bologna
and, having been engaged at the court of Johann Wilhelm, the Elector
Palatine in 1701, began his operatic career in Genoa in 1703. His
appointment in 1714 as virtuoso to Prince Antonio Farnese led to
widespread recognition throughout Europe, and he performed in operas
by various famous composers of the day, including Johann Adolph Hasse,
Leonardo Vinci, and Alessandro Scarlatti (Rome 1721). He was an
especially frequent visitor to the theatres of Venice, appearing in
more than twenty operas in that city between 1712 and 1724. In 1720
the Elector of Bavaria engaged him to sing at Munich, where he often
performed until 1727. In the following season, he appeared in Naples
in the same company as Carestini. This occasioned much rivalry and
musico-political intrigue, with the older singer attempting
unsuccessfully to have his younger colleague removed. Bernacchi stood
on his dignity and left for Milan in a huff.In 1729 Handel took
Bernacchi as his primo uomo for the second Royal Academy, in place of
the departed Senesino. For Handel, Bernacchi created roles in Lotario
(1729) and Partenope (1730). He also sang in revivals of Giulio Cesare
and Tolomeo, and in the pasticcio Ormisda. Despite his fine European
reputation, Bernacchi's success in England was mixed: though Charles
Burney praised his intelligence as a singer, English audiences
preferred Senesino.In 1736 Bernacchi retired from the stage. He
continued to give private concerts and to sing at ecclesiastical
events. Of his compositions, some church music survives, as do various
concert arias and duets. In his retirement, he founded a singing
school at Bologna.
castrato, composer, and teacher of singing. He studied with Francesco
Antonio Pistocchi. His pupils included Farinelli, for a brief period
during 1727, and the tenor Anton Raaff. Nowadays Bernacchi is best
remembered for his association with the composer George Frideric
Handel, in six of whose operas he sang.Bernacchi was born in Bologna
and, having been engaged at the court of Johann Wilhelm, the Elector
Palatine in 1701, began his operatic career in Genoa in 1703. His
appointment in 1714 as virtuoso to Prince Antonio Farnese led to
widespread recognition throughout Europe, and he performed in operas
by various famous composers of the day, including Johann Adolph Hasse,
Leonardo Vinci, and Alessandro Scarlatti (Rome 1721). He was an
especially frequent visitor to the theatres of Venice, appearing in
more than twenty operas in that city between 1712 and 1724. In 1720
the Elector of Bavaria engaged him to sing at Munich, where he often
performed until 1727. In the following season, he appeared in Naples
in the same company as Carestini. This occasioned much rivalry and
musico-political intrigue, with the older singer attempting
unsuccessfully to have his younger colleague removed. Bernacchi stood
on his dignity and left for Milan in a huff.In 1729 Handel took
Bernacchi as his primo uomo for the second Royal Academy, in place of
the departed Senesino. For Handel, Bernacchi created roles in Lotario
(1729) and Partenope (1730). He also sang in revivals of Giulio Cesare
and Tolomeo, and in the pasticcio Ormisda. Despite his fine European
reputation, Bernacchi's success in England was mixed: though Charles
Burney praised his intelligence as a singer, English audiences
preferred Senesino.In 1736 Bernacchi retired from the stage. He
continued to give private concerts and to sing at ecclesiastical
events. Of his compositions, some church music survives, as do various
concert arias and duets. In his retirement, he founded a singing
school at Bologna.
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