Farinelli, Cuzzoni and Senisino
Print
March 1798 (published)
March 1798 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Italian opera was one of the great theatrical crazes in 18th century London and this image of a scene from George Frederic Handel's opera Flavio, Re De Longobardi shows two of the most famous Italian castrati, Gaetano Berenstadt (1687-1734) and Francesco Bernadi (1686- 1758), better known by his stage name Senesino, on stage with another Italian operatic superstar, the soprano Francesca Cuzzoni (1696-1798), the train of whose dress is held by a young boy.
Flavio opened at the King's Theatre in London's Haymarket on 14th May1723 and despite the usual popularity of Handel's operas only ran for eight performances. Set in the Dark Ages the plot centred around the cynical and manipulative King Flavio played by Berenstadt, whose actions threatened to wreak havoc to those around him. The supposed setting of a play or opera made little difference to 18th century stage costume, as can be seen from Cuzzoni's fashionable contemporary dress as Emilia and the classically-inspired breastplates and helmet of Berenstadt and Senesino as Flavio and Guido.
The title on this print mistakenly credits the three singers as Farinelli, Cuzzoni and Senisino instead of Berenstadt, Cuzzoni and Senesino.
Flavio opened at the King's Theatre in London's Haymarket on 14th May1723 and despite the usual popularity of Handel's operas only ran for eight performances. Set in the Dark Ages the plot centred around the cynical and manipulative King Flavio played by Berenstadt, whose actions threatened to wreak havoc to those around him. The supposed setting of a play or opera made little difference to 18th century stage costume, as can be seen from Cuzzoni's fashionable contemporary dress as Emilia and the classically-inspired breastplates and helmet of Berenstadt and Senesino as Flavio and Guido.
The title on this print mistakenly credits the three singers as Farinelli, Cuzzoni and Senisino instead of Berenstadt, Cuzzoni and Senesino.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Farinelli, Cuzzoni and Senisino (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving |
| Brief description | Gaetano Berenstadt as Flavio, Francesca Cuzzoni as Emilia and Francesco Bernardi (called Senesino) as Guido in Act III, Scene 4 of Flavio, Re De Longobardi by George Frederic Handel. First performed on 14th February 1723 at the Kings Theatre, Haymarket. Etching by J. Barlow after William Hogarth. Published in March 1798. Harry Beard Collection. |
| Physical description | Engraving of Gaetano Berenstadt as Flavio, Francesca Cauzzoni as Emilia and Francesco Bernardi (Senesino) as Guido on stage in Act III, Scene 4 of Flavio by Handel. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Flavio |
| Summary | Italian opera was one of the great theatrical crazes in 18th century London and this image of a scene from George Frederic Handel's opera Flavio, Re De Longobardi shows two of the most famous Italian castrati, Gaetano Berenstadt (1687-1734) and Francesco Bernadi (1686- 1758), better known by his stage name Senesino, on stage with another Italian operatic superstar, the soprano Francesca Cuzzoni (1696-1798), the train of whose dress is held by a young boy. Flavio opened at the King's Theatre in London's Haymarket on 14th May1723 and despite the usual popularity of Handel's operas only ran for eight performances. Set in the Dark Ages the plot centred around the cynical and manipulative King Flavio played by Berenstadt, whose actions threatened to wreak havoc to those around him. The supposed setting of a play or opera made little difference to 18th century stage costume, as can be seen from Cuzzoni's fashionable contemporary dress as Emilia and the classically-inspired breastplates and helmet of Berenstadt and Senesino as Flavio and Guido. The title on this print mistakenly credits the three singers as Farinelli, Cuzzoni and Senisino instead of Berenstadt, Cuzzoni and Senesino. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.660-2011 |
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| Record created | June 29, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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