, better known under the name of Farinello, was born the 24th of January, 1705, at Andria, in the kingdom of
, better known under the name of
Farinello, was born the 24th of January, 1705, at Andria,
in the kingdom of Naples, of a family noble, though poor.
From the patent of his knighthood of the order of Calatrava, it appears that he was indebted for the lasting agreeableness of his voice, not to a voluntary mutilation from
the thirst of gain, but that he was obliged to undergo the
cruel operation on account of a dangerous hurt he received
in his youth, by a fall from a horse. He owed the first
rudiments of the singing art to his father Salvatore Brosco,
and his farther formation to the famous Porpora. At, that
time there flourished at Naples three wealthy brothers of
the name of Farina, whose family is now extinct. These
persons vouchsafed him their distinguished patronage, and
bestowed on him the name of Farinello. For some time
his fame was confined to the convivial concerts of his patrons, till it happened that the count of Schrautenbach,
nephew of the then viceroy, came to Naples. To celebrate his arrival, -the viceroy and his familiar friend Antonio Caracciolo, prince della Torella, caused the opera
of “Angelica and Medoro
” to be represented, in which
Metastasio and Farinello plucked the first laurels of their
immortal fame.