Giovanni Francesco Grossi
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Francesco Grossi (12 February 1653 – 29 May 1697), one of the greatest Italian
singers of the age of bel canto
, better known as Siface, was born at Pescia
in Tuscany
.
He entered the papal chapel in 1675, and later sang at Venice
. He derived his nickname of Siface from his impersonation of that character in Cavalli
's opera, Scipione affricano
. It has generally been said that he appeared as Siface in Alessandro Scarlatti
's Mitridate, but the confusion is due to his having sung the part of Mitridate in Scarlatti's Pompeo at Naples in 1683.
In 1687 he was sent to London
by the duke of Modena, to become a member of the chapel of James II
. He probably did much for the introduction of Italian music into England
, but soon left the country on account of the climate. Among Purcell
's harpsichord
music is an air entitled Sefauchi's Farewell. He was murdered in 1697 on the road between Bologna
and Ferrara
, by the agents of a nobleman with whose wife he had a liaison.
See Corrado Ricci's Vita Barocca (Milan, 1904).
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
singers of the age of bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...
, better known as Siface, was born at Pescia
Pescia
Pescia is an Italian city in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy.It is located in a central zone between the cities Lucca and Florence, on the banks of the homonymous river.-History:...
in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
.
He entered the papal chapel in 1675, and later sang at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. He derived his nickname of Siface from his impersonation of that character in Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli was an Italian composer of the early Baroque period. His real name was Pietro Francesco Caletti-Bruni, but he is better known by that of Cavalli, the name of his patron Federico Cavalli, a Venetian nobleman.-Life:Cavalli was born at Crema, Lombardy...
's opera, Scipione affricano
Scipione affricano
Scipione affricano is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Francesco Cavalli. It was designated as a dramma per musica. The Italian libretto was by Nicolò Minato.-Performance history:...
. It has generally been said that he appeared as Siface in Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian Baroque composer especially famous for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera. He was the father of two other composers, Domenico Scarlatti and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti.-Life:Scarlatti was born in...
's Mitridate, but the confusion is due to his having sung the part of Mitridate in Scarlatti's Pompeo at Naples in 1683.
In 1687 he was sent to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by the duke of Modena, to become a member of the chapel of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. He probably did much for the introduction of Italian music into England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but soon left the country on account of the climate. Among Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
's harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
music is an air entitled Sefauchi's Farewell. He was murdered in 1697 on the road between Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, by the agents of a nobleman with whose wife he had a liaison.
See Corrado Ricci's Vita Barocca (Milan, 1904).