Valentino Urbani sang the role of Eustazio at the premiere of what opera that was composed in 171, and was the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage?
Valentino Urbani Valentino Urbani (born in Udine; "fl." 1690–1722) was an Italian alto castrato who sang for the composer George Frideric Handel in the 18th century. He was known by the stage name Valentini. He sang the role of Eustazio at the première of Handel’s "Rinaldo", the role of Silvio at the premiere of "Il pastor fido", and the role of Egeo at the first performance of "Teseo". His powers of singing seem to have been limited and by the time of his Handel roles his voice was declining but he is reputed to have been a fine actor.
Il burbero di buon cuore Il burbero di buon cuore ("The Good-Hearted Curmudgeon") is an opera dramma giocoso in two acts by Vicente Martín y Soler. The Italian libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte is based on the French comedy "Le bourru bienfaisant" by Carlo Goldoni. The opera premiered on January 4, 1786 in Vienna at the Burgtheater with a cast that included three well known Viennese singers of the day: Nancy Storace as Angelica, Francesco Benucci as Ferramondo, and Maria Mandini as Marina. The opera premiered in the same year and at the same house as Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro", and both operas enjoyed revivals at the Burgtheater three years later — each boasting two new arias for new leading ladies. The new arias for "Il burbero di buon cuore" (""Chi sa, chi sa, qual sia"" K. 582 in Act I and ""Vado, ma dove?"" K. 583 in Act II, both for Lucilla) were actually composed by Mozart, as Martín y Soler had left Vienna to work at the court of Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg. The opera recently received its first modern revival in 2007 at the Teatro Real in Madrid, a performance which was videotaped live and released on DVD in 2009.