Bianchi, Francesco (c. 1752-1810)

Italian composer. He was maestro al cembalo at the Comédie Italienne in Paris, France, in 1775, where he worked under Niccolò Piccinni and produced two operas. In 1778 he went to Florence, Italy, and in 1783 was appointed second maestro di cappella at Milan Cathedral. His most successful opera, La villanella rapita, was produced the same year in Venice. In 1795 he went to London, England, as composer to the King's Theatre, and three years later to Dublin, Ireland. He wrote popular opéras-comiques in Paris, 1802-07, but returned to London, where he remained until his death by suicide.

Works 60 operas, oratorios, church music, trio sonatas.