A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Guarducci, Tommasso

GUARDUCCI, Tommasso, Toscano, born at Montefiascone about 1720, was afterwards a pupil of the famous Bernacchi at Bologna, and became one of the best singers of his time. He appeared at most of the chief theatres of Italy with success from 1745 to 1770. In the autumn of 1766 he was brought over by Mr. Gordon, one of the managers, to the London Opera as 'first man,' with Grassi. In the spring of 1767, two serious operas, 'Carattaco' by J. C. Bach and Vento's 'Conquista del Messico,' were produced; and in these the two new singers excited more attention, and acquired more applause, than before. Guarducci was, according to Burney, 'tall and awkward in figure, inanimate as an actor, and in countenance ill-favoured and morbid; but a man of great probity and worth in his private character, and one of the most correct singers. His voice was clear, sweet, and flexible. His shake and intonations were perfect, and by long study and practice he had vanquished all the difficulties of his art, and possessed himself of every refinement.' Prejudice at first ran high against him, but his merit made its way, and his highly-polished style was very much admired. He paid a high compliment to the then state of taste in London, by which (he told Dr. Burney) he had profited largely, in discarding superfluous and ill-selected ornaments from his singing. He was, perhaps, the simplest of all the first class of singers. All his effects were produced by expression and high finish. He sang in the English oratorios at short notice, with very little knowledge of our language. He received, however, £600 for twelve oratorios, a larger sum than was ever given on a like occasion until the time of Miss Linley. In 1771 he retired, and lived with his family, passing the winter at Florence and the summer at Montefiascone, where he had a handsome country-house.

[ J. M. ]