Atto Melani

Atto Melani (30 March 1626 in Pistoia – 4 January 1714 in Paris) was a famous Italian castrato opera singer, also employed as a diplomat and a spy.

Melani was born in Pistoia, the third of seven sons of a local bell-ringer. He was castrated at a young age so that he could become a singer. Three other brothers also became castrati, along with two cousins. His brothers Alessandro Melani and Jacopo Melani both became celebrated composers.

He soon attracted the patronage of nobleman Mattias de' Medici. Roger Freitas argues that the "circumstantial evidence is convincing" that Melano has an affair with Duke Carlo II of Mantua: Melani indicated that "both men had sex with the same (unidentified) page at the court of Innsbruck".

Melani quickly became famous nevertheless and stories circulated that his voice was the result of being bitten by a snake. His most celebrated role was as Orfeo in the opera by Luigi Rossi which premiered in 1647. His fame took Melani to the court of Louis XIV of France, effectively promoted as a gift from the Medici to the opera-loving Queen Anne. Cardinal Mazarin thereupon introduced him to the world of espionage, where Melani quickly shone as he had in music. He took advantage of concerts held in the European courts to send messages and discover secrets. In 1657 Melani was sent by Mazarin to Bavaria to persuade the prince elector Ferdinand, a friend of France, to put himself forward as candidate for Holy Roman Emperor. Although the operation ultimately failed, Mazarin came to appreciate Melani's diplomatic abilities even more.

Mazarin's death reversed Melani's fortunes. Especially damaging was his closeness to the superintendent of finances, Nicolas Fouquet, who was arrested and imprisoned. Louis XIV had known Melani from infancy and had great confidence in him, but after discovering Melani had copied his letters to Fouquet decided to publicly exile him. There is also suggestion that the husband of Hortense Mancini (niece of Cardinal Mazarin) convinced Louis of exile, apparently out of fear of an affair with his wife.

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