Anton Raaff

Raaff studied at the Jesuit school in Bonn where the Elector of Bavaria, Clement Augustus, heard him singing and paid for him to train professionally.

Raaff was brought to the capital, Munich, where he was engaged on an annual salary of 2000 thalers.

In 1738 he was sent to Vienna to sing at the wedding ceremonies for Empress Maria Theresa, after which he was sent on a long period of overseas travel, during which time his fame grew.

In the opinion of Schubart, his was the most beautiful male voice of all time, and his diction perfect in several languages.

[1] When Elector Charles Theodore asked him to return home, he said he was not sure the Elector would be happy with him any more; indeed, his talents had begun to wane and Schubart noticed that Raaff's vibrato had become extremely marked.