Anton Raaff (6 May 1714 – 28 May 1797) was a German tenor from Gelsdorf near Bonn.
He studed at the Jesuit school in Bonn, and the role of Idomeneo was created for him in 1780. The Elector of Bavaria, Clement Augustus, heard him singing and paid for him to train professionally. Raaff was brought to the capital, Munich, where he was engaged on an annual salary of 2000 thalers. From Munich he was sent to Bologna to study the Italian style so he wou...
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Anton Raaff (6 May 1714 – 28 May 1797) was a German tenor from Gelsdorf near Bonn.
He studed at the Jesuit school in Bonn, and the role of Idomeneo was created for him in 1780. The Elector of Bavaria, Clement Augustus, heard him singing and paid for him to train professionally. Raaff was brought to the capital, Munich, where he was engaged on an annual salary of 2000 thalers. From Munich he was sent to Bologna to study the Italian style so he would be able to perform in the prevailing opera seria style.
In 1738 he was sent to Vienna to sing at the wedding ceremonies for Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, after which he was sent on a long period of overseas travel, during which time his fame grew.
From 1752 to 1755 he was in Lisbon, and from 1755 to 1759 in Madrid, where he sang with Farinelli. He worked in Naples from 1759 to 1769, after which he returned to Germany.
In the opinion of Schubart, his was the most beautiful male voice of all time, and his diction perfect in several...
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