Gatti, Théobalde

Gatti, Théobalde (1650, Florence; 1727, Paris), composer, was known as Théobalde in France. He had already distinguished himself on the bass viol by the time he left his native country. Because he was so impressed by the overtures of Lully’s first lyric tragedies, he wished to meet their author. When he explained to his compatriot why he had come to Paris, Lully rewarded him with a chair in the orchestra of the Opéra. He held this position for nearly fifty years and was finally laid to rest in…