Giovanni Battista Velluti, colloquially "Giambattista" (28 January
1780 â€" 22 January 1861), was an Italian castrato. He is also
considered "last of the great castrati" and had a reputation of being
something of a diva, with some singers refusing to appear with
him.Born in Pausula (near Macerata), Italy, a local doctor castrated
him at the age of eight as treatment for a cough and high fever.
Velluti's father, who had planned on a military career for his son,
enrolled him in musical training. He became close friends with Luigi
Cardinal Chiaramonte, the man who would become Pope Pius VII, after
singing a cantata sometime in his teenage years. In 1800, he made his
debut at Forlì.The last great castrato roles were composed
specifically for him: Arsace in Rossini's Aureliano in Palmira (1813)
and Armando in Meyerbeer's Il crociato in Egitto (1824). He made his
London debut in 1825 in Il crociato in Egitto. The crowds reacted
poorly to his initial performances as he was the first castrato to
appear in London in 25 years, but he drew crowds until the end of his
career. In 1826 he took over management of The King's Theatre in
London and appeared there in Aureliano in Palmira and Morlacchi's
Tebaldo ed Isolina. However, his career as a theatre manager ended
following financial quarrels over extra pay for the chorus. He
returned to London in 1829, but appeared only in concerts. Upon his
retirement from the stage, he became an agriculturist and died in
1861.
1780 â€" 22 January 1861), was an Italian castrato. He is also
considered "last of the great castrati" and had a reputation of being
something of a diva, with some singers refusing to appear with
him.Born in Pausula (near Macerata), Italy, a local doctor castrated
him at the age of eight as treatment for a cough and high fever.
Velluti's father, who had planned on a military career for his son,
enrolled him in musical training. He became close friends with Luigi
Cardinal Chiaramonte, the man who would become Pope Pius VII, after
singing a cantata sometime in his teenage years. In 1800, he made his
debut at Forlì.The last great castrato roles were composed
specifically for him: Arsace in Rossini's Aureliano in Palmira (1813)
and Armando in Meyerbeer's Il crociato in Egitto (1824). He made his
London debut in 1825 in Il crociato in Egitto. The crowds reacted
poorly to his initial performances as he was the first castrato to
appear in London in 25 years, but he drew crowds until the end of his
career. In 1826 he took over management of The King's Theatre in
London and appeared there in Aureliano in Palmira and Morlacchi's
Tebaldo ed Isolina. However, his career as a theatre manager ended
following financial quarrels over extra pay for the chorus. He
returned to London in 1829, but appeared only in concerts. Upon his
retirement from the stage, he became an agriculturist and died in
1861.
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