Anton Raaff
Encyclopedia
Anton Raaff was a German tenor
from Gelsdorf
near Bonn.
school in Bonn where the Elector of Bavaria, Clement Augustus
, heard him singing and paid for him to train professionally. Raaff was brought to the capital, Munich, where he was engaged on an annual salary of 2000 thaler
s. From Munich he was sent to Bologna to study the Italian style so he would be able to perform in the prevailing opera seria
style.
In 1738 he was sent to Vienna to sing at the wedding ceremonies for Empress Maria Theresa, after which he was sent on a long period of overseas travel, during which time his fame grew.
From 1752 to 1755 he was in Lisbon, and from 1755 to 1759 in Madrid, where he sang with Farinelli
. He worked in Naples from 1759 to 1769, after which he returned to Germany. Raaff sang the title role in the premiere of Mozart's 1781 opera Idomeneo
; this was his last stage role. He spent his remaining years teaching and died in Munich in 1797.
In the opinion of Schubart
, his was the most beautiful male voice of all time, and his diction perfect in several languages. When Elector Charles Theodore
asked him to return home, he said he was not sure the Elector would be happy with him any more; indeed, his talents had begun to wane and Schubart noticed that Raaff's vibrato had become extremely marked.
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
from Gelsdorf
Grafschaft, Rhineland
Grafschaft is a municipality in the district of Ahrweiler, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated approx. 20 km south of Bonn.The following 17 villages belong to Grafschaft:*Alteheck*Beller*Bengen*Birresdorf*Bölingen*Eckendorf*Esch*Gelsdorf...
near Bonn.
Career
He studied at the JesuitSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
school in Bonn where the Elector of Bavaria, Clement Augustus
Clemens August of Bavaria
Clemens August of Bavaria was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria and Archbishop-Elector of Cologne.-Biography:...
, heard him singing and paid for him to train professionally. Raaff was brought to the capital, Munich, where he was engaged on an annual salary of 2000 thaler
Thaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
s. From Munich he was sent to Bologna to study the Italian style so he would be able to perform in the prevailing opera seria
Opera seria
Opera seria is an Italian musical term which refers to the noble and "serious" style of Italian opera that predominated in Europe from the 1710s to c. 1770...
style.
In 1738 he was sent to Vienna to sing at the wedding ceremonies for Empress Maria Theresa, after which he was sent on a long period of overseas travel, during which time his fame grew.
From 1752 to 1755 he was in Lisbon, and from 1755 to 1759 in Madrid, where he sang with Farinelli
Farinelli
Farinelli , was the stage name of Carlo Maria Broschi, celebrated Italian castrato singer of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers in the history of opera.- Early years :...
. He worked in Naples from 1759 to 1769, after which he returned to Germany. Raaff sang the title role in the premiere of Mozart's 1781 opera Idomeneo
Idomeneo
Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante is an Italian language opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a French text by Antoine Danchet, which had been set to music by André Campra as Idoménée in 1712...
; this was his last stage role. He spent his remaining years teaching and died in Munich in 1797.
In the opinion of Schubart
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart , was a German poet, born at Obersontheim in Swabia.He entered the university of Erlangen in 1758 as a student of theology. He led a dissolute life, and after two years' stay was summoned home by his parents...
, his was the most beautiful male voice of all time, and his diction perfect in several languages. When Elector Charles Theodore
Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
asked him to return home, he said he was not sure the Elector would be happy with him any more; indeed, his talents had begun to wane and Schubart noticed that Raaff's vibrato had become extremely marked.