Domenico Annibali
Encyclopedia
Domenico Annibali was an Italian castrato
who had an active international career from 1725-1764. He began his career in his native country and was then committed to the Grosses Königliches Opernhaus in Dresden from 1729 until his retirement from the stage 35 years later. In Dresden he excelled in the opera
s of Johann Adolf Hasse, notably creating roles in the premieres of two of his operas. He was also admired there in works by Nicola Porpora
.
Annibali also appeared as a guest artist with theatres in Italy and in Vienna and London. He is best remembered today for originating roles in three operas by George Frideric Handel
at Covent Garden
in 1737. Musicologist Charles Burney
wrote that "his abilities during his stay in England seem to have made no deep impression". However, Mary Delany
wrote that he had "the best part of Senesino
's voice and Caristini's, with a prodigious fine taste and good action." Other accounts of his time in England praised his coloratura
facility highly, but found his acting somewhat wooden.
, Annibali's earliest known appearance was in Rome in 1725 in one of Nicola Porpora
's operas. After further appearances in Rome in 1726, he was active in theatres in Venice from 1727-1729. In 1729 he accepted a post at the Royal Opera House in Dresden where he was active through 1764. In Dresden he was heard in the world premieres of two operas by Johann Adolf Hasse: Cleofide (1731, Alessandro) and Attilio Regolo (1750, title role). He also sang in Hasse's Cajo Fabricio (1734), Tito Vespasiano, Demetrio, Lucio Papirio, Arminio, Semiramide, Demofoonte, and Adriano in Siria. On 18 July 1747 he sang the title role in Porpora's Filandro in a performance honoring the birthday of Princess Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
.
While committed to the Dresden opera house, Annibali was granted leave to perform as a guest artist at many other theatres internationally. He made appearances in Rome in 1730, 1732, and 1739; notably appearing in the premiere of Porpora's Germanico in Germania at the Teatro Capranica in February 1732. In 1731 he had a major triumph in Vienna in the title role of Antonio Caldara
's Demetrio which drew the admiration of Pietro Metastasio. From October 1736 to June 1737 he was a member of George Frideric Handel
's opera company at the Royal Opera House
in London; making a sensational debut at the theatre on 8 December in the title role of Handel's Poro
. He went on to create roles in the world premieres of three operas by Handel: the title roles in Arminio
(12 January 1737) and Giustino
(16 February 1737), and the role of Demetrio in Berenice
(18 May 1737). He also sang in the premieres of Handel's cantata
Always a bearer of glory, the pasticcio Didone abbandonata, and in the revised version of Il trionfo del tempo
; and in revivals of Partenope
, Alexander's Feast
, and Esther (in Italian).
When Annibali retired from the stage in 1764, he left Dresden with the title of Kammermusikus and with a pension of 1200 thaler. He returned to his native town where he maintained a residence until 1776 when he moved to Rome. He died in Rome three years later. He was also active as a teacher of singing during his life. One of his notable pupils was the Ukrainian composer Timofiy Bilohradsky
.
Castrato
A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's...
who had an active international career from 1725-1764. He began his career in his native country and was then committed to the Grosses Königliches Opernhaus in Dresden from 1729 until his retirement from the stage 35 years later. In Dresden he excelled in the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s of Johann Adolf Hasse, notably creating roles in the premieres of two of his operas. He was also admired there in works by Nicola Porpora
Nicola Porpora
Nicola Porpora was an Italian composer of Baroque operas and teacher of singing, whose most famous singing student was the castrato Farinelli. One of his other students was composer Matteo Capranica.-Biography:Porpora was born in Naples...
.
Annibali also appeared as a guest artist with theatres in Italy and in Vienna and London. He is best remembered today for originating roles in three operas by George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in 1737. Musicologist Charles Burney
Charles Burney
Charles Burney FRS was an English music historian and father of authors Frances Burney and Sarah Burney.-Life and career:...
wrote that "his abilities during his stay in England seem to have made no deep impression". However, Mary Delany
Mary Delany
Mary Delany was an English Bluestocking, artist, and letter-writer; equally famous for her "paper-mosaicks" and her lively correspondence.-Early life:...
wrote that he had "the best part of Senesino
Senesino
Senesino was a celebrated Italian contralto castrato, particularly remembered today for his long collaboration with the composer George Frideric Handel.-Early life and career:...
's voice and Caristini's, with a prodigious fine taste and good action." Other accounts of his time in England praised his coloratura
Coloratura
Coloratura has several meanings. The word is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare . When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and...
facility highly, but found his acting somewhat wooden.
Life and career
Born in MacerataMacerata
Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the capital of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.The historical city center is located on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina, then, after the romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina...
, Annibali's earliest known appearance was in Rome in 1725 in one of Nicola Porpora
Nicola Porpora
Nicola Porpora was an Italian composer of Baroque operas and teacher of singing, whose most famous singing student was the castrato Farinelli. One of his other students was composer Matteo Capranica.-Biography:Porpora was born in Naples...
's operas. After further appearances in Rome in 1726, he was active in theatres in Venice from 1727-1729. In 1729 he accepted a post at the Royal Opera House in Dresden where he was active through 1764. In Dresden he was heard in the world premieres of two operas by Johann Adolf Hasse: Cleofide (1731, Alessandro) and Attilio Regolo (1750, title role). He also sang in Hasse's Cajo Fabricio (1734), Tito Vespasiano, Demetrio, Lucio Papirio, Arminio, Semiramide, Demofoonte, and Adriano in Siria. On 18 July 1747 he sang the title role in Porpora's Filandro in a performance honoring the birthday of Princess Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia, Princess of Bavaria , Electress of Saxony, was a German composer, singer, harpsichordist and patron, known particularly for her operas Il trionfo della fedeltà and Talestri, regina delle amazoni . She was also the Regent of Saxony in 1763-1768...
.
While committed to the Dresden opera house, Annibali was granted leave to perform as a guest artist at many other theatres internationally. He made appearances in Rome in 1730, 1732, and 1739; notably appearing in the premiere of Porpora's Germanico in Germania at the Teatro Capranica in February 1732. In 1731 he had a major triumph in Vienna in the title role of Antonio Caldara
Antonio Caldara
Antonio Caldara was an Italian Baroque composer.Caldara was born in Venice , the son of a violinist. He became a chorister at St Mark's in Venice, where he learned several instruments, probably under the instruction of Giovanni Legrenzi...
's Demetrio which drew the admiration of Pietro Metastasio. From October 1736 to June 1737 he was a member of George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's opera company at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in London; making a sensational debut at the theatre on 8 December in the title role of Handel's Poro
Poro (opera)
Poro, re dell'Indie is an opera seria in three acts written for the Royal Academy of Music by George Frideric Handel...
. He went on to create roles in the world premieres of three operas by Handel: the title roles in Arminio
Arminio
Arminio is an opera composed by George Frideric Handel.- Performance History :Together with Giustino and Berenice, Arminio is one of three operas Handel wrote within a period of half a year in 1736. He began with the composition of Giustino on 14 August 1736, followed by that of Arminio on 15...
(12 January 1737) and Giustino
Giustino
Giustino is an opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The Italian-language libretto was adapted from Pietro Pariati's Giustino, after Nicolo Beregan's Il Giustino.-Performance history:...
(16 February 1737), and the role of Demetrio in Berenice
Berenice (opera)
Berenice is an opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel to an Italian libretto, written in Italy in 1709 and originally entitled Berenice, regina d'Egitto , by Antonio Salvi....
(18 May 1737). He also sang in the premieres of Handel's cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
Always a bearer of glory, the pasticcio Didone abbandonata, and in the revised version of Il trionfo del tempo
The Triumph of Time and Truth
The Triumph of Time and Truth is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel which saw three iterations across 50 years of Handel's career.HWV 46a is an Italian oratorio from 1707. In 1737 Handel revised and expanded the oratorio to create HWV 46b...
; and in revivals of Partenope
Partenope
Partenope is an opera by George Frideric Handel, first performed at the King's Theatre in London on 24 February 1730.-Background:...
, Alexander's Feast
Alexander's Feast (Handel)
Alexander's Feast is an ode with music by George Frideric Handel set to a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton. Hamilton adapted his libretto from John Dryden's ode Alexander's Feast, or the Power of Music which had been written to celebrate Saint Cecilia's Day...
, and Esther (in Italian).
When Annibali retired from the stage in 1764, he left Dresden with the title of Kammermusikus and with a pension of 1200 thaler. He returned to his native town where he maintained a residence until 1776 when he moved to Rome. He died in Rome three years later. He was also active as a teacher of singing during his life. One of his notable pupils was the Ukrainian composer Timofiy Bilohradsky
Timofiy Bilohradsky
Timofiy Bilohradsky was a lutenist, composer and kobzar-bandurist of Ukrainian ethnicity, active in St. Petersburg and Königsberg....
.