Antonio Bernacchi

Antonio Bernacchi (21 June 1685 – 1 March 1756)^[1] was an Italian castrato, composer, and teacher of singing. He studied with Francesco Antonio Pistocchi. His pupils included Farinelli, for a brief period during 1727, and the tenor Anton Raaff. Nowadays Bernacchi is best remembered for his association with the composer George Frideric Handel, in six of whose operas he sang.

^ Although he is generally referred to in the 20th century musical literature as "Antonio Maria", examination of his original baptismal record has shown that he was christened only "Antonio" (his alleged middle name belonging instead to his father "Angelo Maria") and that he was born on 21 June 1685, and not on 23, as it is generally written (Anzani, Valentina (2022). Il castrato Antonio Bernacchi: Virtuoso e maestro di canto bolognese. Lucca: LIM, pp. 5–6, ISBN 9788855431392).

[1] Although he is generally referred to in the 20th century musical literature as "Antonio Maria", examination of his original baptismal record has shown that he was christened only "Antonio" (his alleged middle name belonging instead to his father "Angelo Maria") and that he was born on 21 June 1685, and not on 23, as it is generally written (Anzani, Valentina (2022). Il castrato Antonio Bernacchi: Virtuoso e maestro di canto bolognese. Lucca: LIM, pp. 5–6, ISBN 9788855431392).

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