A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Monticelli, Angelo
MONTICELLI, Angelo Maria, was born at Milan about 1710. He first appeared in opera at Rome in 1730, and, having a beautiful face and figure, began in that city, where no women were then allowed upon the stage, by representing female characters. His voice was clear and sweet, and singularly free from defects. 'He was,' says Burney, 'a chaste performer, and … a good actor.' In 1731 and 32 he appeared at Venice with Carestini, Bernacchi, and Faustina. He came to London in the autumn of 1741, and made his début here in the pasticcio 'Alessandro in Persia.' In the beginning of 1742, after other attempts, another opera was brought out by Pergolese, called 'Meraspe, o L'Olimpiade,' the first air of which, 'Tremende, oscuri, atroci,' in Monticelli's part, was sung for ten years after the end of the run of this opera; and 'the whole scene, in which "Se ceroa se dice" occurs, was rendered so interesting by the manner in which it was acted as well as sung by Monticelli that the union of poetry and music, expression and gesture, have seldom had a more powerful effect on an English audience' (Burney).
He continued to perform in London through 1743; and in 1744 he sang, in 'Alfonso,' songs of more bravura execution than he had previously attempted. During 1745 and 1746 Monticelli still belonged to our Opera; and in the latter year he sang in Gluck's 'Caduta de' Giganti,' and described one of his songs as an 'aria Tedesca' from the richness of the accompaniment. The 'Antigono' of Galuppi (produced May 13) was the first opera in which Monticelli appeared on our stage. He sang at Naples with la Mingotti in the same year, and afterwards at Vienna. In 1756 Hasse engaged him for the Dresden Theatre; and in that city he died in 1764.
A capital mezzotint portrait of Monticelli was scraped by Faber after Casali.[ J. M. ]