A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Manzuoli, Giovanni
MANZUOLI, Giovanni, was born at Florence about 1725. Having acquired a reputation in Italy, he repaired, in 1753, to Madrid, where he was engaged at a high salary by Farinelli. In 1764 and 1765 he came to London, and, by his performance, 'the serious opera acquired a degree of favour to which it had seldom mounted since its first establishment in this country' (Burney). His voice was the most powerful soprano that had been heard on our stage since the time of Farinelli, and his style was full of taste and dignity. The applause he earned was hearty and unequivocal; 'it was a universal thunder.' Other singers had more art and feeling; none possessed a sweeter or fuller organ. As to execution, he had none; but he was a good actor, though unwieldy in figure, and ill-made. Nor was he young; but the sensation he excited seems to have been irresistible. All the composers struggled to have the honour of writing for him; even Dr. Arne composed his unsuccessful 'Olimpiade' for the popular singer. Manzuoli, however, left England at the end of the season, and did not return. In the same year he was at Vienna, and he shortly afterwards retired to his native place, with the title of 'Singer to the Court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.'
In a letter[1] of Mozart's, his first after starting on his Italian tour, Jan. 7, 1770, he says of a singer whom he heard, 'canta un poco Manzuolisch ed a una bellissima voce forte ed é già vecchio,' etc. Burney heard him again, in September of that year, taking part in a service in a convent near Florence, and was delighted, though the voice seemed less powerful, even in a small church, than when he was in England. His name occurs once more, in one of the elder Mozart's letters, written in the following August, 'Manzuoli often visits us;' and he is included among 'the singers, not only celebrated in their profession, but goodhearted and sensible people.' He took part in the 'Serenata' composed by the young Mozart in honour of the nuptials of the Archduke Ferdinand, at Milan, Oct. 17, 1771, and was encored in one of his songs. Mozart writes again, Nov. 24, 1771:—'Herr Manzuoli, the musico, who has always been considered and esteemed as the best of his class, has in his old age given a proof of his folly and arrogance. He was engaged at the Opera for the sum of 500 gigliati (ducats), but as no mention was made of the Serenata in the contract, he demanded 500 ducats more for singing in it, making 1000. The court only sent him 700 and a gold box (and enough too, I think), but he returned the 700 ducats and the box, and went away without anything. I don't know what the result of this history will be,—a bad one, I fear!' A good portrait of Manzuoli was engraved by G. B. Betti, after a design by L. Betti. Among his pupils was the celebrated Coltellini.- ↑ In the collection of the present writer.