Nicolino, whose real name was Nicolo Grimaldi, was an Italian male contralto, greatly admired for his performances in opera.
Born in Naples in 1673, he made his name in his native country before moving to England in 1708. The eighteenth-century operatic fashion for castrato voices was at its height in London at the time. As a result, he made an immediate success, reaching what can only be described as superstar status.
He seems to have been equally proficient as an actor and singer and played the principle parts in many of HandelΓÇÖs operas. He created the title role in Rinaldo and became an essential ingredient of Handel's success as an opera composer. As with other castrati of the period, he commanded vast fees and ensured runaway success at the box office.
In 1731 he returned to Italy to rehearse a new production. He died before the opening, at the age of fifty-nine.
