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Gaspare PacchierottiItalian castrato singer, owner of a unique mezzo-soprano
Date of Birth: 21.05.1740
Country:  Italy |
Content:
Biography of Gasparo Pacchierotti
Gasparo Pacchierotti was an Italian castrato singer, known for his unique mezzo-soprano voice. He was one of the most famous singers of his time. While little is known about his early life, it is known that Gasparo Pacchierotti was born on May 21, 1740 in Fabriano, Marche, in central Italy. He was likely descended from the Tuscan artist Jacopo del Pacchia and began singing as a boy in the choir of the cathedral in Forlì.
Early Career
Under the stage name Porfirio Pacchierotti, he made his debut in the opera "Le nozze di Dorina" by Baldassarre Galuppi at the Teatro dei Nobili in Perugia during the carnival season of 1759. He played the role of Livietta, a female role as castrati often did. He continued to perform under the fictional name in Venice in 1764 and in Innsbruck in 1765. In Innsbruck, he sang the role of Acronte in Johann Adolph Hasse's opera "Romolo ed Ersilia," which was performed to celebrate the wedding of future Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II and Spanish infanta Maria Luisa de Borbón. It was during this time that he first encountered the renowned castrato singer Gaetano Guadagni, who was at the peak of his career.
Rise to Fame
By the late 1760s, Pacchierotti had become a leading opera singer in Venice. He took singing lessons from composer and music teacher Ferdinando Bertoni, who remained a close friend throughout his life. In 1770, he performed with Caterina Gabrielli, a soprano known for her superb voice and fiery temperament, in Palermo. Despite Gabrielli's capricious nature, Pacchierotti earned her admiration. The following year, he performed at the famous Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the most renowned theater in Italy at the time, and impressed the audience so much that he stayed in Naples for five years. During his time there, he was imprisoned for a few days for a duel with Francesco Ruffo, an officer of the royal guard. The exact reason for the duel is uncertain, but it may have been related to Ruffo's admiration for soprano Anna de Amicis or a noblewoman who was infatuated with Pacchierotti's singing. In 1776, after this incident, Pacchierotti left Naples and never returned.
Later Career
Over the next 15 years, Pacchierotti performed in northern Italy, particularly in Milan, Venice, Genoa, Padua, and Turin. In Milan, he had a tremendous success singing the role of Asterio in Antonio Salieri's opera "Europa riconosciuta" at the opening of the Teatro alla Scala on August 3, 1778. Between 1778 and 1791, he also made several appearances in London, where he was highly regarded for his rich and full-bodied soprano voice, meticulous approach to singing, good taste, and musical style. Even those who did not understand Italian could understand the emotions conveyed through Pacchierotti's intonation and facial expressions. He was also known for being a good and modest person with moderate needs. Despite not being conventionally handsome, many women fell in love with him because of his artistry.
Later Years and Legacy
Returning to Italy, Pacchierotti performed at the opening of the new Teatro la Fenice in Venice on May 16, 1792, and made his final opera appearance at the same theater the following season. He then relocated to Padua but was forced to perform at a concert for Napoleon on May 2, 1797. He was once again imprisoned when French police intercepted a letter in which he expressed regret over the collapse of the Venetian Republic under French occupation. Even in retirement, Pacchierotti remained famous. He corresponded with and received visitors, including renowned figures such as Rossini and Stendhal. In 1814, he sang at the memorial service for his friend and beloved composer Ferdinando Bertoni. His final public performance took place on October 19, 1817, at the age of 77, in the church of Mirano. Pacchierotti also taught singing, and he is famously quoted as saying, "He who knows how to breathe, knows how to sing."
Gasparo Pacchierotti, the renowned castrato singer, passed away on October 28, 1821, in Padua.
