A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Babbini, Matteo

BABBINI, Matteo, a celebrated Italian tenor, was born at Bologna, 1754 [App. p.526 "Feb. 19"]. He was intended for the practice of medicine; but, on the death of his parents, took refuge with an aunt, the wife of a musician named Cortoni. The latter instructed him, and cultivated his voice, making him a good musician and first-rate singer. His début was so brilliant that he was at once engaged for the opera of Frederick the Great. After staying a year at Berlin, he went to Russia, into the service of Catherine II. In 1785, he sang with success at Vienna; and in the next season in London, with Mara, when he took, though a tenor, the first man's part, there being no male soprano available. As far as method and knowledge went, he was a very fine singer, but he did not please the English cognoscenti; his voice was produced with effort, and was not strong enough to have much effect. He sang again, however, the next year (1787), and returning to Italy in 1789, appeared in Cimarosa's 'Orazi,' and was afterwards engaged at Turin. In 1792, the King of Prussia recalled him to Berlin, where he distinguished himself in the opera of 'Dario.' During the next ten years he sang at the principal Theatres of Italy, and appeared in 1802, at Bologna, though then 50 years old, in the 'Manlj' of Niccolini, and Mayer's 'Misteri Eleusini.' He now retired from the stage and settled in his native town, where he lived generally esteemed and honoured for the noble use he made of his riches; and died Sept. 21, 1816. His friend, Doctor Pietro Brighenti, published 'Elogio di Matteo Babbini,' Bologna, 1822.

[ J. M. ]