A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Anfossi, Pasquale
ANFOSSI, Pasquale, an operatic composer of the 18th century. Born at Naples in or about 1729 [App. p.523 "1736"]. He first studied the violin, but deserted that instrument for composition, and took lessons in harmony from Piccinni, who was then in the zenith of his fame. His two first operas, 'Caio Mario' and 'I Visionari,' the first brought out in Venice, the second in Rome, were failures; but his third, 'L'Incognita persequitata,' made his fortune. Its success was partly owing to the ill-feeling of a musical clique in Rome towards Piccinni, whom they hoped to depreciate by the exaltation of a rival. Anfossi lent himself to their intrigues, and treated his old master and benefactor with great ingratitude. In his own turn he experienced the. fickleness of the Roman public of that day, and quitting, first the capital, and afterwards Italy, brought out a long string of operas in Paris, London, Prague, and Berlin, with varying success. He returned to Italy in 1784, and to Rome itself in 1787. Tiring of the stage, he sought for and obtained the post of Maestro at the Lateran, and held it till his death [App. p.523 "Feb. 1797"].
The music of Anfossi was essentially ephemeral; he was the fashion in his day, and for a time eclipsed his betters. But, although a musician of undoubted talent, he was destitute of real creative power, and it is not likely that his reputation will ever be rehabilitated. He composed no less than forty-six operas and one oratorio, besides certain pieces of church-music, some of which are in the collection of the Lateran and others were in that of the Abbé Santini.
Mozart composed two airs for soprano and one for tenor, for insertion in Anfossi's opera of 'Il Curioso indiscrete' on the occasion of its performance at Vienna in 1783, and an arietta for bass for the opera of 'Le Gelosie fortunate' at the same place in 1788. (See Köchel's Catalogue, Nos. 418, 419, 420, 541.) [App. p.523 "See also Curioso Indiscreto."][ E. H. P. ]