December 19 - Venanzio Rauzzini (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 19th are here:  Fritz Reiner; Paul Dessau (2019), Édith Piaf (2020). and  Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (2021)

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Venanzio Rauzzini (19 December 1746 – 8 April 1810) was an Italian castrato, composer, pianist, singing teacher and concert impresario.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three for Rauzzini

He next sang at the court at Vienna in 1767 where Mozart "reacted with delight when he heard Rauzzini singing and offered him the role of primo uomo in his Lucio Silla (1772), in Milan, before composing the motet Exsultate jubilate (1773) especially for him." – Wikipedia

(1)

The castrato Rauzzini possessed

A voice that left Mozart impressed,

And sopranos rejoice

That his singular voice,

Moved Mozart to write at his best.

(2)

When the teenager Mozart befriended

Rauzzini, he said he intended

To write something choice

For that notable voice.

The motet that he wrote is still splendid.

(3)

Or perhaps the true source was mundane

In Mozart’s inscrutable brain;

Perhaps a good latte

Inspired ”Exsultate”;

The Muses will have to explain.