Salamone Rossi

Salamone Rossi or Salomone Rossi (Hebrew: סלומונה רוסי or שלמה מן האדומים) (Salamon, Schlomo; de' Rossi) (ca. 1570 – 1630) was an Italian Jewish violinist and composer. He was a transitional figure between the late Italian Renaissance period and early Baroque. Life Rossi was likely born on August 19th, 1570 in Mantua. Some scholars like E. Werner claimed that he was the son of the distinguished historian Azariah de’ Rossi, however Azariah had no sons. Rossi spent his entire professional career in Mantua. As a young man, Rossi acquired a reputation as a talented violinist. He was then hired as a court musician in Mantua in 1587, where records of his activities as a violinist survive in the Gonzaga court. Rossi served at the court of Mantua for 41 years, from 1587 to 1628 as concertmaster where he entertained the ducal family and their highly esteemed guests. The composers Rossi, Monteverdi, Gastoldi, Wert and Viadana provided fashionable music for banquets, wedding feasts, theatre productions and chapel services amongst others. Rossi was so well-thought of at this court that he was excused from wearing the yellow badge that was required of other Jews in Mantua. He also probably worked with a Jewish theatrical group, playing a significant role in Mantuan theatrical life in the ghetto, the Christian community, and at court. This is supported by Alessandro Pico, Prince of Mirandola, who requested that he along with his ‘his group of musicians’ be sent to Mirandola to entertain the Duke of Modena. Rossi was probably not related to any of the other Mantuan musicians with the same surname, such as Mattheo Rossi. The only exception is Rossi's sister, Madama Europa. She was an opera singer, and possibly the first Jewish woman to be professionally engaged in that area.