Francesco Ceccarelli
Encyclopedia
Francesco Ceccarelli was a soprano castrato
known for his grace and excellent singing technique.
After early opera appearances in his native Umbria, he sang mainly in the German-speaking countries and was thought better suited to church and concert music.
He was notably engaged by Count Hieronymus von Colloredo
as a court singer at Salzburg (1777–88), where he became a friend of the Mozart family; Mozart wrote a mass, K275/272b, and a rondò, K374, for him. At the premiere on December 21, 1777 of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
's Missa Brevis, K. 272b
, Ceccarelli was among the soloists singled out for praise for his performance. Around 1780, Mozart revised "Exsultate, jubilate
," possibly for Ceccarelli to sing at the Dreifaltigkeitskirche.
Later Ceccarelli held posts at Mainz (1788–92) and sang in opera in Italy. In decline he served the Elector of Saxony in Dresden from 1800.
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...
known for his grace and excellent singing technique.
After early opera appearances in his native Umbria, he sang mainly in the German-speaking countries and was thought better suited to church and concert music.
He was notably engaged by Count Hieronymus von Colloredo
Count Hieronymus von Colloredo
Count Hieronymus Joseph Franz de Paula Graf Colloredo von Wallsee und Melz was Prince-Bishop of Gurk from 1761 and Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg from 1771 until 1803, when the Archbishopric was secularized.-Life:He was the second son of Count Rudolf Wenzel Joseph Colloredo von Wallsee und Melz , a...
as a court singer at Salzburg (1777–88), where he became a friend of the Mozart family; Mozart wrote a mass, K275/272b, and a rondò, K374, for him. At the premiere on December 21, 1777 of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
's Missa Brevis, K. 272b
Missa Brevis No. 9 (Mozart)
The Missa Brevis No. 9 in B-flat major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, K. 275/272b, was probably written before September 1777 for Salzburg. The mass is scored for soloists, choir, strings and organ, the latter supplying figured bass for most of the duration....
, Ceccarelli was among the soloists singled out for praise for his performance. Around 1780, Mozart revised "Exsultate, jubilate
Exsultate, jubilate
Exsultate, jubilate K. 165, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was written in 1773.This religious solo motet was composed at the time Mozart was visiting Milan....
," possibly for Ceccarelli to sing at the Dreifaltigkeitskirche.
Later Ceccarelli held posts at Mainz (1788–92) and sang in opera in Italy. In decline he served the Elector of Saxony in Dresden from 1800.