A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bianchi, Francesco (composer)
BIANCHI, Francesco, born at Cremona 1752. In 1775 he was appointed 'Maestro al Cembalo' to the Italian Opera in Paris under Piccinni, and there composed his first opera, 'La Reduction de Paris.' In 1780 he produced 'Castore e Polluce' at Florence, with the English Storace as the prima donna. This successful opera was rapidly followed by many others. In 1784 he was made vice-conductor at S. Ambrogio in Milan, and held an important post at the Scala. A curious story is told of his 'Desertore Francese.' The hero (Pacchierotti) appeared in the uniform of a French soldier, which so scandalised the classic Venetians that they hissed the opera off the stage. Fortunately however the Duchess of Courland passing through Venice expressed a desire to hear it, and courtesy having compelled the audience to keep silence, the music so enchanted them that the objectionable costume was forgotten, and the opera obtained an exceptional success. Some years later, Joseph II offered to take Bianchi into his service, but died (1790) before the latter could reach Vienna. In 1793 Bianchi came to London, having been offered an engagement at the King's Theatre on account of the success of his 'Semiramide,' in which the famous Banti was prima donna. This engagement lasted for seven years. In the intervals of the London season he made short tours abroad, and in one of these composed his 'Inez de Castro' at Naples (1794) for Mrs. Billington's first appearance on the Italian stage. Haydn's diary contains a favourable account of Bianchi's 'Acige e Galatea,' which he heard in London in 1794, but he considered the accompaniments too powerful for the voices. Haydn is also said to have kept one page in Bianchi's compositions turned down for reference when anything had ruffled his temper. In 1800 he married Miss Jackson, a singer, best known as Mrs. Bianchi Lacy—her name by her second marriage. From this time he was chiefly occupied in teaching till his death, by his own hand, at his house in Hammersmith (1810). His tombstone is in Kensington churchyard. Bianchi composed above fifty operas and oratorios, besides instrumental music. He was also the author of a work on the theory of music, portions of which are printed in Bacon's 'Musical Quarterly Review' (ii. 22). Enough has been said to show the estimation of Bianchi by his contemporaries. His chief value to us resides in the fact that he was the master of Sir Henry Bishop. Bianchi has been sometimes confounded with Bertoni, perhaps because of the connection of both with Pacchierotti.
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