Marcello

Benedetto Marcello (31 July or 1 August 1686 - 24 July 1739)Born in Venice, Benedetto Marcello was a member of a noble family and his compositions are frequently referred to as Patrizio Veneto. Although he was a music student of Antonio Lotti and Francesco Gasparini, his father wanted Benedetto to devote himself to law. Indeed, Benedetto combined a life in law and public service with one in music. In 1711 he was appointed member of the Council of Forty (in Venice's central government), and in 1730 he went to Pola as Provveditore (district governor). Due to his health having been "impaired by the climate" of Istria, Marcello retired after eight years to Brescia in the capacity of Camerlengo and there he died. Benedetto Marcello was the brother of Alessandro Marcello, also a composer of some note. The composer Joachim Raff wrote an opera entitled Benedetto Marcello, based loosely on the life of Marcello.