[Castrati] Tenducci, Giusto Ferdinando. (1735 - 1790). Original 1770 Mezzotint Portrait. A very uncommon lifetime mezzotint portrait of the famous Italian soprano castrato and composer. A close friend of J.C. Bach, Tenducci sang in the 1765 premiere of "Adriano in Siria," and was a famed Gluck interpreter who "was responsible for popularizing 'Che farò.'" (Grove) It was Bach who, in 1778, reintroduced Tenducci to Mozart in Paris where "all three men were delighted to see each other again, as it is clear from the unusually heartfelt expressions of love and respect found in Mozart's letter of 27 August." (Herman Albert, "W.A. Mozart," p. 497) For Tenducci, Mozart subsequently wrote a "scena" for voice, keyboard, oboe, horn and bassoon which is unfortunately no longer extant.


Engraved by F. Finlayson and printed by J. Bruscett in 1770. In very fine condition. 25 X 35.5 cm.