Paolo Antonio Rolli

Who was Paolo Antonio Rolli?

Paolo Antonio Rolli was an Italian librettist and poet.

He was born in Rome, Italy and like Metastasio was trained by Gian Vincenzo Gravina. He worked in London from 1715 to 1744 where he became Italian tutor to the prince of Wales and the Royal Princesses . During this period, he wrote librettos for numerous Italian operas including Handel's Floridante, Muzio Scevola, Riccardo Primo and Deidamia. He also worked frequently with composer Giovanni Bononcini writing and adapting numerous librettos for him including his popular Griselda. In December 1729 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

In 1744 he returned to Italy and wrote poetry, cantata texts, satires and translations and also published an Italian verse translation of Milton's "Paradise Lost", widely considered the finest in any language.

He died in Todi, Italy.