A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Benedetti

BENEDETTI, an Italian singer at the Opera in London, 1720. He is mentioned in a witty letter by Sir John Edgar in Steele's journal, 'The Theatre,' from Tuesday March 8 to Saturday March 12, 1720, as an instance of the touchiness of some artists. 'He set forth in the recitative tone, the nearest approach to ordinary speech, that he had never acted anything in any other opera below the character of a sovereign, and now he was to be appointed to be captain of a guard.'

His portrait was engraved by Vertue, and is mentioned by Walpole, 'Catalogue of Engravers,' p. 221. There is a proof impression in the British Museum. It was painted by Beluzzi. Benedetti is represented in a cloak, turned to the right, oval in a frame, 8vo. It is rare.

[ J. M. ]