Who wrote "Ridente la calma"? Mysliveček, Bianchi, Mozart, and Luigi Marchesi’s favourite arias

Abstract

It has been known since 1929 that the canzonetta “Ridente la calma”, traditionally attributed to Mozart and included in the complete edition of his works, is actually an adaptation of an aria by Josef Mysliveček, “Il caro mio bene”, which was recognised in 2009 as a number from the opera “Armida” (Milan, 1780). The article reveals that the poetic text of the pseudo-Mozartean piece comes from the festa teatrale “Il trionfo della pace” (Turin, 1782) by Francesco Bianchi, where it is sung by the character of Ciro. Even more interestingly, Bianchi’s B section is quite similar to that of the canzonetta. Both Mysliveček’s and Bianchi’s arias were written for Luigi Marchesi. In the course of his career, the famous castrato had a special predilection for short “minuets” of this type, as evidenced by many examples. One of them, “Spiegate le vele” from the opera “Angelica e Medoro” (Venice, 1791) by Gaetano Andreozzi, shows resemblances with “Il caro mio bene” / “Ridente la calma”. In conclusion, the hypothesis is put forward that Mozart may have come into contact with Marchesi’s favourite piece when the singer stayed in Vienna in 1785.