Ferrandini, Giovanni Battista (actually, Zaneto)

Ferrandini, Giovanni Battista (actually,Zaneto), Italian composer; b. Venice, c. 1710; d. Munich, Sept. 25, 1791. He studied at the Cons, dei Mendicanti in Venice with Antonio Biffi. While still a boy, he went to Munich and in 1722 he became an oboist in the service of Duke Ferdinand of Bavaria. He remained in his service until 1726, although about 1723 he also entered the service of the elector, becoming his chamber composer in 1732. In 1737 he was made kurfurtstlicher Rat and director of chamber music to the elector. His opera Catone in Utica inaugurated the new residence theater in Munich on Oct. 12, 1753. When he was stricken with ill health in 1755, the elector awarded him the title of Truchsess (Lord High Steward), granted him a pension, and gave him permission to settle in Padua, where he continued to write operas for the Munich court. During the young Mozart’s visit to Padua in 1771, he demonstrated his skill as a harpsichordist before Ferrandini. About 1790 Ferrandini returned to Munich. As a teacher, he numbered the Elector Maximilian III Joseph and Anton Raaff among his students. His daughter, Maria Anne Elisabeth, became a singer. Ferrandini’s operas were held in high esteem in Munich, and they also were given successfully in other operatic centers.

Works

DRAMATIC (all are operas 1^st perf. in Munich unless otherwise given): Gordio (Oct. 22, 1727); // sacrificio invalido (Nymphenburg, July 10, 1729); Colloquio pastorale, serenata (Nymphenburg, Aug. 6, 1729); Berencie (Feb. 5, 1730); Scipio nelle Spagna (1732); Adriano in Siria (Carnival 1737); Demofoonte (Oct. 22, 1737); Componimento dramatico per I’incoronatione di Carlo VII (1742); Catone in Utica (Oct. 12, 1753); Diana placata, serenata (Aug. 17, 1755; rev. 1758); Demetrio (c. 1757); Talestri (n.d.); Nice e Tirsi, cantata (c. 1777); L’amor prigionero (1781). OTHER: 6 syms.; chamber music; some 75 cantatas; about 60 arias.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire