Vicente Tito Mazoni

Masoni, the celebrated violin player, had a rehearsal on Friday morning at the Palace at Brighton, which was attended by several musical amateurs, all of whom expressed their admiration of the highest attainments of Masoni. There is little doubt but he will, in public estimation, eclipse the great lion Paganini. The following particulars relative to this extraordinary person may not prove uninteresting, moreover, as so little is known to the British public of him. He was born at Florence in the year 1799, and commenced his musical career under the famous Campanelli. At the early age of eight years he played at the Theatre of Florence before one of the largest audiences ever assembled there, and from the extraordinary abilities exhibited by him on that occasion he was presented on the stage with a gold repeater and chain, and a gold medal, by the then Grand Duchess of Tuscany (sister of Napoleon), in whose suite he was engaged as first 'concerts' player, and afterwards, in the same capacity, by Fernandez III, brother to the Emperor of Austria, by whom he was recommended to his niece, the Princess Leopoldina, sister of Maria Louise (the wife of Buonaparte). This princess afterwards becoming the wife of Dom Pedro, with her he proceeded to the Brazils, and arrived at Rio Janeiro [Rio de Janeiro] in 1817, where he was installed musician to the Emperor. He remained at Rio until 1822, and then left for Monte Video [Montevideo] and Buenos Ayres [Buenos Aires]; in both these places, he established Philharmonic Societies and Italian Operas under his personal direction. At Monte Video he married a lady, named Ribot, of French extraction. In 1826 he quitted the Brazils [Brazil] , passing over the Cordilleras Mountains with his family, now consisting of four children, to Valparaiso and Chili [Chile]. At those places he remained for three years, and then bent his course to Peru, where he also established Philharmonic Societies. In 1830 he quitted Lima for Calcutta, calling at Manilla and Sincapore [Singapore]; during his stay at the latter place he gave four concerts, and reached Calcutta in the end of that year, where he was warmly received, and succeeded in getting up a grand musical club in the city of palaces, which is at the present moment in a most flourishing condition. Last April he was compelled to remove his family from Calcutta, in consequence of severe indisposition, brought on from a long residence in the tropics, and proceeded to London, where he arrived in October. The Indian journals speak highly of the reputation he has left behind him. The Governor-General and Lady Bentinck gave him the warmest testimonials and recommendations to the principal nobility and gentry of this country. Since his arrival here he has had the honour of playing before their majesties, and has received the royal commands to attend again at the Palace.

Sources

• "The London Packet and Chronicle, and Lloyd's Evening Post." No 11,111, Monday Dec 6 to Wednesday Dec 9, 1833. Headed: 'Masoni, the Violin Player'. Front page, Col. 3.