Valentino Urbani

Valentino Urbani (born in Udine;[1] fl. 1690–1722[2]) was an Italian alto castrato[3][4] who sang for the composer George Frideric Handel in the 18th century. He was known by the stage name Valentini. He sang the role of Eustazio at the première of Handel’s Rinaldo, the role of Silvio at the premiere of Il pastor fido, and the role of Egeo at the first performance of Teseo. His powers of singing seem to have been limited and by the time of his Handel roles his voice was declining but he is reputed to have been a fine actor.

Valentino Urbani
An 18th-century caricature of Valentino Urbani made by Antonio Maria Zanetti
Background information
Birth nameValentino Urbani
Also known asValentini
BornUdine
Years activec. 1707 – 1722
For the ancient people of Sardinia, see Valentini (ancient people).

Charles Burney noted that "his voice was feeble, and his execution moderate", but Cibber praises his acting enthusiastically: "his hearers bore with the absurdity of his singing the part of Turnus in Camilla, all in Italian, while every other character was sung and recited in English".

Urbani was the first castrato to sing regularly in London,[5][6] where he created a sensation[7] and made his début at Drury Lane in 1707. He sang in many different pasticcios and several bilingual operas – operas that were sung in both Italian and English – and had a benefit concert each year. His last known dramatic appearance was in Hamburg in 1722. He had earlier sung at Venice, Parma, Rome, Bologna, and Genoa.

References
  1. A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London: 1660-1800. See this page.
  2. Joyce’s Grand Operoar: Opera in Finnegans Wake by Matthew John Caldwell Hodgart, Ruth H. Bauerle
  3. The Cambridge Companion to Handel by Donald Burrows
  4. Philip H. Highfill; Kalman A. Burnim; Edward A. Langhans. A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London, 1660-1800.
  5. George J. Buelow, Hans Joachim Marx. 1983. New Mattheson Studies.
  6. British Theatre and the Other Arts, 1660-1800 by Shirley Strum Kenny
  7. Interculturalism and resistance in the London theater, 1660-1800: identity, performance, empire by Mita Choudhury. Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press; London: Associated University Presses, 2000. Page 44.
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