“Inedited Letters of Celebrated Persons” (Mrs. Piozzi)

Piozzi writes of hearing Giannetti improvise a eulogy, and contrasts him with those who improvise verses to music.

Performer Name:
Giannetti
Performance Venue:
Florence
Performance Date:
1785
Author:
Piozzi, Hester Lynch
Date Written:
1785
Language:
English
Publication Title:
Bentley’s Miscellany
Article Title:
Inedited Letters of Celebrated Persons: Mrs. Piozzi
Page Numbers:
28:309
Additional Info:
Letter dated 14 June 1785
Publisher:
Richard Bentley
Place of Publication:
London
Date Published:
1850

Text:

[Letter to Samuel Lysons:] Count Mannucci, however, a Tuscan Nobleman, who was intimate in England with Mr. Thrale, at Paris with Mr. Piozzi, does all in his Power to make us amends, introduces us to literary acquaintance, and carried me to the Academy last Thursday, where I heard the famous Giannetti pronounce a eulogium on Captain Cook—very fine indeed! and the tender-hearted Italians wiped their eyes at the relation of his death. This Giannetti is the only improvisatore in Europe who makes his verses and recites them off-hand—the others all sing, and depend on the time given by the tune or chant for the invention of fresh rhimes and matter.

Notes:

 

Collected by:
AE