Tonelli, Antonio (1686–1765)

Italian composer and cellist. He learnt music from his parents, who were both good amateurs, then studied with the choirmaster of Carpi Cathedral and at Bologna and Parma, where the duke became his patron. He spent three years at the Danish court, returned to his home town and became choirmaster at the cathedral in 1730, but resigned in the 1740s and spent some of his time in other towns and on tour, returning to the post in 1757. He was active to an advanced age and proposed to marry pupil more than 60 years his junior.

Works operas L'enigma disciolto and Lucio Vero; intermezzo Canoppo e Lisetta; oratorio Il trionfo dell'umiltà di S Filippo Neri and others; church music; cantatas; a canzoniere against nuns.