Luigi Rossi

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Luigi Rossi (* around 1598 in Torre Maggiore ; † 20th February 1653 in Rome ) was an Italian opera singer ( tenor ), and composer of the early Baroque .

Life

Originally from southern Italy, Luigi Rossi studied in Naples . He worked as a composer, singer and lutenist with the Medici princes in Florence and with Cardinal Antonio Barberini in Rome . In 1632 he wrote the cantata Lamento della Regina di Svetia on the death of the Swedish King Gustav Adolf in Lützen . This cantata made him the most popular composer in Europe at the time .

In 1641 he entered the service of Pope Urban VIII in Rome . His first opera Il palazzo d'Atlante incantato was performed there in 1642, and further cantatas and oratorios followed in the next few years . He is considered the master of the cantatas, of which he wrote over 250.

In 1646 he was appointed to the Parisian court, later his second opera Orfeo , which established the fame of Italian operas, was premiered here with the castrati Atto Melani in the main role and Marc'Antonio Pasqualini in the role of Aristeo . Rossi's employer at the time, Cardinal Mazarin , was heavily criticized for the extremely pompous performance.

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personal data
SURNAME Rossi, Luigi
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian opera singer (tenor) and early baroque composer
DATE OF BIRTH around 1598
PLACE OF BIRTH Torremaggiore
DATE OF DEATH February 20, 1653
Place of death Rome