Caffarelli, Gaetano. Majoriano

1703-1783

Celebrated Italian vocalist, who was born at Bari, near Naples, of poor and ignorant parents. He early attracted the attention of Cafaro, or Caffarelli, director of the Conservatory of Naples, who had him educated. After studying with Porpora, he made his debut at Rome, in 1724, and appeared in various Italian cities, among them Milan, Florence, Venice, Turin, Genoa and Naples. He appeared in London in Handel's Faramondo, in 1738, and at Paris also. He figured largely in his day as a rival of Farinelli and is said to have possessed such vocal qualifications that old Porpora, his teacher, dismissed him, after several years' instruction with the words: "Go my son, I have nothing more to teach you. You are the greatest singer in Europe." He was courted by the highest society of Rome, and was also received with every honor in London, when he appeared there. He seems, however, not to have fulfilled the expectation of the Londoners and returned to Italy, where his appearances in every town he visited were veritable triumphs. At the invitation of the Dauphin of France, he went to Paris, in 1750, and sang at several concerts. He was still singing at the age of sixty-five, but shortly afterward purchased a dukedom, and retired to a palace, which he had built in Santo Dorato. He died in 1783, leaving his wealth and dukedom to a nephew. He was at his best in the bravura style of singing and was a master of pathetic song.