Amadei, Filippo

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Amadei, Filippo

Amadei, Filippo, Italian composer; b. Reggio, e. 1670; d. probably in Rome, c. 1730. He was a cellist in the service of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni in Rome (1690–96). His opera Teodosio il giovane was performed at the cardinal’s palace in 1711. He was in London by 1719, where he gave concerts under the name Sigr Pippo. In 1720 he joined the orch. of the new Royal Academy of Music under Handel’s directorship, with which he became active as a composer. He wrote the 1st act of the opera Muzio Scevola, for which Bononcini wrote the 2nd act and Handel the 3rd, and which was premiered on April 21, 1721. About 1724 Amadei returned to Rome, and was again in the service of Cardinal Ottoboni until 1729. Among his other works were oratorios and cantatas.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire