Antonio Masini

Antonio Masini (c. 1639 – 20 September 1678) was born in Florence. During the last years of his life in Rome he was the Kapellmeister of the Cappela Giulia in Rome and furthermore the chamber musician of the former Queen of Sweden Kristina during her stay in Rome.

Biography During the years 1663 and 1664 his presence in Lucca and Ferrara is known. Furthermore a theatre performance in Ferrara in 1666 was mentioned. In 1674 he advanced to be the director of music of the Cappella Giulia in Rome, additionally he was the maestro of the ensemble at the Confraternita della S. Casa di Loreto dei Marchigiani and at the church of S. Salvatore in Lauro. He was succeeded by Francesco Beretta. According to Baini, his burial place is S. Maria in Posterola.

Works His best known compositions are as follows:

Il giuditio delle stagioni concerto musicale rappresentato nella solennità della Ss.ma Annuntiata, (performed at: scuole di S. Maria Cortelandini, Libretto: B. Beverini; Lucca 1663) L’Eumene (Oper, Libretto: A. Passarelli, performed in Ferrara at: teatro Bonacossi a S. Stefano, 1666) Il Narciso (obviously performed in presence of the former Queen of Sweden in 1678)

Furthermore there exist several oratorios and sacred songs (to be accompanied by Basso continuo) in the libraries of Naples, the Vatican, and in Bologna.