Life
Trained at the dawn of the Arcadian taste, his long and prolific career led him to reach full maturity in an era of great stylistic richness, where the solidity of Arcadia merged with the new elegance of the Rococo and the critical spirit of the Enlightenment.
Born in Ferrara in 1682, Paolo Benedetto Bellinzani received his musical training in a context rich in stimuli. He obtained prestigious positions as maestro di cappella in several Italian cities, including Udine, Pesaro, Fano, and Recanati.
Aneddoto
An itinerant master
His continuous movements between Italian cities earned him the reputation of an itinerant master, always in demand for his skill.Works
Bellinzani left an extensive production of masses, motets, and cantatas. He published several collections of vocal music, which were disseminated even outside of Italy.
Briciole di storia
The vices of the Italians
In the middle of the eighteenth century, Pietro Calepio wrote a Letter on Italian Customs which was translated into French and published in 1728 in the prestigious Bibliothèque Italique. In this text, which became very well known, Calepio did not limit himself to describing Italy in general, but clearly and sincerely denounced various vices of Italian society. Among his harshest criticisms was the poor functioning of educational institutions and, in particular, the idleness in which most of the nobility lived, considered the cause of their dissoluteness. He also denounced the low consideration given to the female role.
Pubblico dominio (Google Art Project)
