Francesco Bernardi, known as Senesino, was an opera star of his era. The singer had a marvelous strong voice, he was a public favourite, earned (according to that time) a lot of money. For a long time he collaborated with Maestro Handel, who wrote for him many great roles.
Francesco Bernardi was born in 1686, in Siennese barber’s family. His music education, and music career as well, began when he joined the cathedral choir in Siena. Senesino made his stage debut in Venice in 1707, but he was found as an opera singer after his Dresden debut in Lotti’s Giove in Argo (1717). In 1720 Senesino sang in Heinichen’s opera - Flavio Criso.
Based on history, the singer met Handel in Dresden, when the composer came there looking for singers for the Royal Academy in London. For the very first Maestro listened Senesino in 1719, in Lotti’s opera Teofane. Apparently, the offer Handel made to Senesino was so good, that Senesino couldn’t refuse it. So, he became an “official” singer of the Royal Academy in London.
In spite of the fact that Senesino’s arrival in London was the work of Handel, the singer made his London debut in Bononcini opera Astarto. First role in Handel’s opera was in Radamisto. Radamisto was a beginning of Handel’s and Senesino’s collaboration which was long, but not easy going, indeed. Composer wrote 17 leading roles for the singer and all of these roles were wonderful, for example: Giulio Cesare in Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Andronico in Tamerlano, Bertarido in Rodelinda etc.
Living in London, Senesino was collaborating not only with Handel. So, working at the Royal Academy, he got an opportunity to sing in eight operas of Bononcini.
We can talk a lot about fruitful collaboration of Senesino and Handel, but for both of them it was complicated. Also, like the composer, the singer was not an easy going person. Handel was too strict and demanding, Senesino was vain, sensitive and insolent, moreover, he was greedy for intrigues.
In 1728 the Royal Academy collapsed and ( having lived 16 years in England) Senesino left London. It is known, that for some time he sang in Paris and in 1730 he came back again to London to join the second Royal Academy.
After coming back to London, Senesino sang in such Handel’s operas and oratorios like: Acis and Galatea, Esther and Deborah.The last Handel’s opera in which Senesino sang - Orlando (1733). On this the collaboration of the brilliant singer and outstanding composer was finished. Same year, 1733, Senesino joined Opera of the Nobility.
One year later Senesino left England for forever, but before coming back to the hometown - Siena, he sang in Florence and Naples. After coming back to Siena, Senesino built for himself a cozy house, where he lived till the end of his days. They said, the singer never changed his “English” habits, he had a black servant, he loved tea. Senesino died on November 27, 1758.
Author: Alisia Holainen
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