Tito and the Virtuoso Spy

By rights, I should have included a few words about 17th-century castrato Atto Melani in my historical note at the back of Cruel Music. Tito's fictional stint as a singer/spy in Cardinal Fabiani's villa owes much to Atto's real-life career. It's time to give the man his due.

Atto's career was fascinating because he used his musical gifts to propel himself into the heights of European society and then used that access to report on court and state intrigue. Atto Melani was born in Pistoia, a small Tuscan town, in 1626, reportedly of a comfortably placed, bourgois family. There's no record of any famous musical ancestors, but the family must have had some interest in the profession, because Atto and three of his six brothers were all castrated for the sake of their lovely voices.

Learning court manners along with his vocal exercises, Atto soon attracted the patronage of nobleman Mattias de'Medici. While their precise realtionship is buried under the weight of years, it appears that the singer may have entertained Mattias with more than music. Atto also added the role of spy when Cardinal Mazarin of France made a request for Italian singers to entertain the French court. Much as Tito was sent as a "gift" from Venice to a Roman prince of the church, Atto was sent by the Medicis to the opera-loving Queen Anne.

The high-born of the time tended to surround themselves with music whenever possible. Besides performing on stage, Atto would have serenaded at banquets, intimate suppers, and basically whenever the queen fancied a song. He quickly learned to turn his talents and good looks to advantage. And also to keep his ears open for information which would interest Mattias de'Medici. He went on to perform the same function for Cardinal Mazarin at German courts. Still later, Atto became involved in a scheme to gain the papal throne for Cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi, who became Pope Clement IX.

The photo of the bust at the top of this post shows Atto in old age, after he had used his influence to gain wealth and position for himself and his family. It's the only representation of him that I've been able to find, though it seems likely that someone with his connections would have sat for a portrait. I've had friends in the baroque community looking, but so far, nothing. If anyone knows of a portrait, please let me know. I'd love to see what he looked like during his singing days.

Note: Most of my information on Atto Melani comes from the work of Roger Freitas, a musicologist who has made a serious study of his life and works (Atto wrote music, too).