18 Facts About Metastasio

Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi, better known by his pseudonym of Pietro Metastasio, was an Italian poet and librettist, considered the most important writer of opera seria libretti.

Metastasio was born in Rome, where his father, Felice Trapassi, a native of Assisi, had taken service in the Corsican regiment of the papal forces.

Gravina hellenized the boy's name Trapassi into Metastasio, and intended his adopted son to be a jurist like himself.

Metastasio soon found himself competing with the most celebrated improvvisatori of his time in Italy.

Metastasio decided to apply himself seriously to the work of his profession.

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Metastasio migrated to Naples, and entered the office of an eminent lawyer named Castagnola, who exercised severe control over his time and energies.

Metastasio wrote "Gli orti esperidi", which was set to music by Nicola Porpora, and sung by Porpora's pupil, the castrato Farinelli, making a spectacular debut, it won the most enthusiastic applause.

Metastasio wrote quickly and his plays were enhanced by being set to music and sung by the greatest singers of the day.

Metastasio's took the whole Trapassi family – father, mother, brother, sisters – into her own house.

Metastasio gained 300 scudi for each opera; this pay, though good, was precarious and he longed for some fixed engagement.

Metastasio's took charge of his family in Rome and he set off for Austria.

Metastasio understood the technique of his peculiar art in its minutest details.

Metastasio's had lost her husband, and had some while occupied the post of chief favourite to the emperor.

Metastasio was ashamed of her and tired of her, and wrote dissuading her from the projected visit.

Metastasio's seems to have set out from Rome, but died suddenly upon the road.

Metastasio sank rapidly into the habits of old age; and, though he lived till the year 1782, he was very inactive.

Language in Metastasio's hands is musical, lucid, and songlike, perhaps due to his experience as an improvisatory poet.

Metastasio was an admirer of Torquato Tasso, Giambattista Marino, Giovanni Battista Guarini, and Ovid.