Francesco Benucci [SEP] voice type
Francesco Benucci
Francesco Benucci (ca. 1745 – 5 April 1824) was an outstanding Italian bass/baritone singer of the 18th century. He sang a number of important roles in the operas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and other composers.
Life.
Life Historical background and early career.
He was born ca. 1745 in Livorno and began his early career there around 1768. The start of Benucci's career took place in an already flourishing world of opera buffa, which provided an existing role type, the comic bass
and stirring military accompaniment have made this aria popular from the very beginning; indeed at the rehearsals of the premiere the performers burst spontaneously into bravos for the composer; for details see article on Francesco Benucci, who created the role. Mozart later quoted his own tune, played by a stage band as part of a medley sequence, in his opera "Don Giovanni" – evidently aware that the audience would instantly recognize it (the character Leporello, in "Don Giovanni's" Vienna premiere also sung by Benucci, ironically sings