A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Fraschini, Gaetano

FRASCHINI, Gaetano, was born at Pavia in 1815. Originally intended for the study of medicine, he soon found himself possessed of a most powerful tenor voice, and devoted himself to its cultivation. Having received some instruction from a master named Moretti, he made his first attempt (1837) in the cathedral of his native city, and was immediately engaged to sing the second tenor rôle in 'Belisario' at Pavia, and Rodrigo in 'Otello' at the fair at Bergamo. In 1840 he sang at Milan; and from thence went to Naples, where he remained several years attached to the Opera. Fétis heard him there in 1841, and admired his voice, and the bold style in which he attacked the most difficult notes; nine years later he heard him again at Bergamo, and found to his surprise not only that his energy and purity of tone were undiminished, in spite of the violence of the music which he had been executing during that period, but that he had learned to sing better than before. Fraschini visited Bologna, Venice, Turin, Padua, Vicenza, London, and Vienna; and sang frequently at the later place down to 1852 with constant success. In 1847 he made his début at Her Majesty's Theatre. 'Though originally gifted with greater vocal power' than another singer, says Mr. Chorley, 'Signer Fraschini was less fortunate .... The new-comer, naturally anxious to recommend himself by the arts which had delighted his own people, seemed to become more and more violent in proportion as the "sensation" failed to be excited. But he "piled up the agony," forte on forte, in vain.' Continued to appear till a recent date, and now (1878) lives at Pavia, where the theatre is called after him, Teatro Fraschini. [App. p.642 "he died at Naples, May 24, 1887."]

[ J. M. ]