Soloists of the Opera Productions in Brno, Holešov, Kroměříž and Vyškov: Italian Opera Singers in Moravian Sources c. 1720-1740 (Part I)

The years of approx. 1720-1740 saw an unprecedented number ofopera seriaproductions being staged in the region of Moravia, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.¹ The earliest sources recording productions of Italian operas come from Johann Adam Questenberg’s castle in Jaroměřice (Jarmeritz, see Jana Perutková in Part II of this study).² Another renowned patron of Italian music in Moravia was Wolfgang Hannibal Schrattenbach (1660-1738, from 1711 bishop in Olomouc/Olmütz), who spent several years in Italy at various places and posts, the viceroy of Naples among others (1719-1721). Having moved from Italy to Moravia in 1722, he became