Francesco Manelli
Encyclopedia
Francesco Manelli (13 September 1594 – July 1667) was a Roman Baroque
composer
, particularly of opera
; and theorbo
player. He is most well known for his collaboration with fellow Roman composer Benedetto Ferrari
in bringing commercial opera to Venice
. The first two works, in 1637 and 1638, to be put on commercially in the Teatro San Cassiano
were both by Manelli - his L'Andromeda and La Maga Fulminata.
Francesco Manelli was for many years confused with the Franciscan
friar Giovanni Battista Fasolo
, because of the resemblances between Manelli’s cantata Luciata, (published in Musiche varie, op.4 Venice, 1636), and Fasolo’s dialogue Il carro di Madama Lucia (Rome, 1628), and the shared text of the first piece in both collections. In a comparison of the two cantatas Fasolo's version is "languid and melancholy", while Manelli's version is "spirited and biting".
Cantatas
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, particularly of 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...
; and theorbo
Theorbo
A theorbo is a plucked string instrument. As a name, theorbo signifies a number of long-necked lutes with second pegboxes, such as the liuto attiorbato, the French théorbe des pièces, the English theorbo, the archlute, the German baroque lute, the angélique or angelica. The etymology of the name...
player. He is most well known for his collaboration with fellow Roman composer Benedetto Ferrari
Benedetto Ferrari
Benedetto Ferrari was an Italian composer, particularly of opera, librettist and theorbo player.Ferrari was born in Reggio nell'Emilia. He worked in Rome , Parma , and possibly in Modena at some time between 1623 and 1637. He created music and libretti in Venice and Bologna, 1637-44...
in bringing commercial opera to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. The first two works, in 1637 and 1638, to be put on commercially in the Teatro San Cassiano
Teatro San Cassiano
The Teatro San Cassiano or Teatro di San Cassiano in Venice was the first public opera house when it opened in 1637. The theatre takes its name from the neighbourhood where it was located, the parish of San Cassiano near the Rialto. It was a stone building owned by the Venetian Tron family...
were both by Manelli - his L'Andromeda and La Maga Fulminata.
Francesco Manelli was for many years confused with the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar Giovanni Battista Fasolo
Giovanni Battista Fasolo
Giovanni Battista Fasolo was a Franciscan friar, organist and composer.In his middle years Fasolo was primarily known for his 1645 organ annual, which, like L'organo suonarino of Adriano Banchieri, from the generation before him, was intended for use in small parish churches, and are much simpler...
, because of the resemblances between Manelli’s cantata Luciata, (published in Musiche varie, op.4 Venice, 1636), and Fasolo’s dialogue Il carro di Madama Lucia (Rome, 1628), and the shared text of the first piece in both collections. In a comparison of the two cantatas Fasolo's version is "languid and melancholy", while Manelli's version is "spirited and biting".
Works
Operas, music for all of which is lost.- L'Andromeda (libretto: Benedetto FerrariBenedetto FerrariBenedetto Ferrari was an Italian composer, particularly of opera, librettist and theorbo player.Ferrari was born in Reggio nell'Emilia. He worked in Rome , Parma , and possibly in Modena at some time between 1623 and 1637. He created music and libretti in Venice and Bologna, 1637-44...
) (1637) - La maga fulminata (Ferrari) (1638)
- Delia ossia La sera sposa del sole (Giulio Strozzi) (1639)
- Il pastor regio (Ferrari) 1640
- L'Adone (Paolo Vendramin) (1640)
- L'Alcate (Marc' Antonio Tirabosco) (1642)
- Ercole nell'Erimanto (Bernardo MorandoBernardo MorandoBernardo Morando, also known as Bernardino or Morandi was a Polish-Italian architect. He is notable as the author of a new town of Zamość, modelled on Renaissance theories of the 'ideal city'....
) (1651) - Le vicende del tempo (Morando) (1652)
- Il ratto d'Europa (Paolo Emilio Fantuzzi / Elvezio Sandri) (1653)
- La Filo, overo Giunone repacificata con Ercole (Francesco BerniFrancesco BerniFrancesco Berni was an Italian poet. He is credited for beginning what is now known as "Bernesque poetry", a serio-comedic type of poetry with elements of satire.-Life:...
) (1660) - La Licasta (Ferrari) (1664)
Cantatas
- Musiche varie, Op. 4 1636
Recordings
- duet - Ti lascio empia, inconstante. Musiche varie, Op. 4 Suzie LeBlancSuzie LeBlancSuzie LeBlanc is a Canadian soprano and early music specialist, who has enjoyed an active international career performing in concerts throughout Europe, North America and Japan, in repertoire ranging from lute songs to chamber music to oratorio and early opera.Suzie LeBlanc specializes in the 17th...
(Soprano), Derek Lee RaginDerek Lee RaginDerek Lee Ragin is an American countertenor.Ragin studied as a piano major at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. While at Oberlin he took secondary voice lessons with Richard Anderson. He began his operatic career at Oberlin in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream as Oberon...
(Countertenor), Love and Death in Venice, Teatro Lirico, dir. Stephen StubbsStephen StubbsStephen Stubbs is a lutenist and music director and has been a leading figure in the European early music scene for nearly thirty years....
Virgin Classics 1996
See also
- Grove Music Online Article, Manelli (Mannelli), Francesco
- The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, Manelli (Mannelli), Francesco (? ‘Il Fasolo’)