Francesco Bianchi (composer)
Introduction Francesco Bianchi'''Giuseppe Francesco Bianchi''' (1752 – 27 November 1810) was an Italian opera composer. Born in Cremona, Lombardy, he studied with Pasquale Cafaro and Niccolò Jommelli, and worked mainly in London, Paris and in all the major Italian operatic centers of Venice, Naples, Rome, Milan, Turin, Florence.He wrote at least 78 operas of all genres, mainly in the field of the Italian opera, but in the French opera too. These included the drammi per musica (opera seria) ''Castore e Polluce'' (Florence 1779), ''Arbace'' and ''Zemira'' (both Naples, 1781), ''Alonso e Cora'' (Venice, 1786), ''Calto'' and ''La morte di Cesare'' (both Venice, 1788), and ''Seleuco, re di Siria'' (Venice, 1791), and the opera giocosa ''La villanella rapita'' (Süttör, 1784).Bianchi committed suicide in Hammersmith, London, in 1810, probably out of family troubles. He was buried alongside his daughter in the churchyard of the old Kensington Church, now St Mary Abbots, Kensington.His widow published parts of his "theoretical work" in the Quarterly Music Review for 1820/1821.
Private life Bianchi married Jane Jackson who was a well known singer. She had a continuing career after Bianchi's death, married William Lacy and they performed for seven years at the court of Oudh.
Works === Operas ===*See: List of operas by Francesco Bianchi=== Religious compositions ===* ''Domine ad adiuvandum'', 2 August 1773, Cremona* ''Converte Domine'', 10 May 1779, Milan, Metropolitan Cathedral* ''Exalta Domine'', 10 May 1779, Milan, Metropolitan Cathedral* ''Deus noster refugium con Gloria patri'', 10 May 1779, Milan, Metropolitan Cathedral* ''Abraham et Isaac''; ''Tres pueri hebrai''; others
References ;Notes;Sources* "Bianchi, Francesco" by Marita P. McClymonds and Sven Hansell in ''Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online'', accessed 5 January 2010 *  Caruselli, Salvatore (ed. ), ''Grande enciclopedia della musica lirica'', Longanesi &C. Periodici S.p.A., Roma, vol. 4* Highfill, Jr., Philip H., Burnim, Kalman A., and Langhans, Edward A., ''A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800: v. 2'', Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, 1973, * Sadie, Stanley (ed), ''New Grove Dictionary of Opera'', Oxford University Press, 1992, vol. 4
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