Francesco Carattoli (1704 or 1705 – March 1772) was an Italian

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

''buffo'', or singer of opera buffa. Carattoli was born in Rome, and began singing in the 1740s. He sang in a number of comic operas in various parts of Italy through the 1740s, 1750s, and early 1760s, by composers such as Gaetano Latilla,

Baldassare Galuppi Baldassare Galuppi (18 October 17063 January 1785) was an Italian composer, born on the island of Burano in the Venetian Republic. He belonged to a generation of composers, including Johann Adolph Hasse, Giovanni Battista Sammartini, and C. ...

Domenico Fischietti Domenico Fischietti (1725–1810) was an Italian composer. He was born in Naples and studied at the Conservatory of Sant'Onofrio Porta Capuana under the leadership of Leonardo Leo and Francesco Durante. His first opera, ''Armindo'', premiered in ...

, and Niccolò Piccinni, both becoming prominent himself and helping to increase the popularity and prestige of opera buffa through his skillful performances. A number of the prominent comic opera bass roles of the 18th century were written for him, and his combination of voice and acting was much sought after. In 1764, he went to Vienna to sing there. During the 1760s, Italian impresarios brought troupes of ''buffi'' to Vienna, and opera buffa become quite popular there. Carattoli was, along with

Domenico Poggi Domenico is an Italian given name for males and may refer to: People * Domenico Alfani, Italian painter * Domenico Allegri, Italian composer * Domenico Alvaro, Italian mobster * Domenico Ambrogi, Italian painter * Domenico Auria, Italian archit ...

, one of the most celebrated singers despite being in his 60s by that time, and gained praise from

Johann Joseph Khevenhüller-Metsch Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name ''Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious" ...

and Joseph von Sonnenfels, among others. He had roles written for him by prominent Viennese composers of opera buffa as well, including Florian Leopold Gassmann and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

References

* 1700s births 1772 deaths Italian opera singers Operatic basses {{italy-opera-singer-stub