Individual Details
Antonio Giovanni BENVENUTI
(15 Oct 1820 - 21 Apr 1896)
Antonio Benvenuti immigrated to Brisbane in 1871. In his birth place, Padua, he was an esteemed linguist in European languages and a competent violinist. He arrived in Brisbane with his wife Catherine and three sons Luigi, Victor and Italo. On moving to Brisbane Antonio became involved in the Brisbane musical scene and opened his own violin school, being listed in the Post Office Directories first as ‘professor of music’ in 1879 and then as ‘teacher of music’ in subsequent years. Benvenuti worked closely with influential Brisbane musicians such as R. T. Jefferies to establish musical groups, hold cultural events and promote patronage of this art in Brisbane. He travelled throughout Australia playing concerts and was nicknamed the ‘modern Paganini’.
In 1874 Antonio purchased approximately forty–five perches of land in Agnes Street Fortitude Valley. In 1879 he built a timber house on the lot that he called “Italia” and this was the family house for the next twenty years.
With his three sons, who were also proficient musicians, the Benvenuti family continued to travel extensively throughout Queensland and Australia providing musical entertainment. All three of Antonio’s sons were fine musicians and the four of them were collectively known as the Benvenuti Quartet.
In 1890 the Benvenutis built another house beside the first on 31 Agnes Street. This was a two-storey timber house with dual front verandahs. This residence was rented out over the years to various tenants, the first being Frank Pallymen, a watchmaker. This property remained in the Benvenuti name until 1901 when it was sold to Ola Peter Troedson who was first listed at the Fortitude Valley address in the Electoral Rolls in 1901.
In 1899 the Benvenutis built another house on the other side of the original home. 23 Agnes Street followed the same design as 31 Agnes Street. This residence was to be home for Victor Benvenuti, Antonio’s son. Victor was first listed at the address in 1900 as a musician. Victor was important in the Brisbane music scene in this period in his own right. As well as being an integral part of the Benvenuti Quartet, Victor was the conductor for Brisbane’s Theatre Royal for many years and played an important role in Brisbane’s cultural life.
The three houses on Agnes Street are important surviving residences connected to the Benvenuti family. As a set of intact timber houses built in the late nineteenth century they are rare remnants of the residential nature of this part of Fortitude Valley prior to the increase of commerce and industry in the area.
The three residences on Agnes Street were built in succession between 1879 and 1899. The houses were built by the Benvenuti family; two were resided in by family members. The Benvenuti family were an influential musical family who contributed to the early cultural life of Brisbane and Queensland. 23, 27 and 31 Agnes Street demonstrate not only the residential development of Fortitude Valley in the late nineteenth century, but also the importance of close knit family connections in many immigrant families in Brisbane in this period.
Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre
Name/Title
Antonio Giovanni BENVENUTI, b. 1820 (approx), Padua ITALY, d. 21st April 1896, Brisbane QLD
About this object
Antonio Giovanni Benvenuti was born c.1820 in Padua, Italy, into a distinguished musical family, one forebear of which was the teacher of Arcangelo Corelli. After receiving a sound musical education, Antonio took a position in a concert company with which he toured Europe for some years, receiving considerable praise for his facility with the works of Paganini. In London he played with the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He married Catherine Barnett in London in March 1858, and the marriage was blessed with three sons.
On 10 June 1871 the Benvenuti family left London on the barque `Polmaise', bound for Australia, and arrived at Brisbane on 19 September 1871 after an eventful journey. During the trip, passengers Somerset and Tuckett were forced to take over the wheel to prevent the ship going over on beam ends and capsizing during a storm.
As settlers the Benvenutis were entitled to a 140 acre land order, and it was not long before the elder Benvenuti was deeply involved in the musical life of the infant colony. Antonio's rare facility and perfection of technique with the violin soon established him as one of the foremost musicians in early Brisbane, so much so that he was billed as `the modern Paganini'. He played in the popular concerts organised by the Queensland musical pioneer, Richard Jefferies, and later played second violin in Jefferies' chamber music quartet. He also played at the Royal Victoria Theatre (later known as Brisbane's Theatre Royal), and went on tour with the Italian Opera Company, performing in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
When Antonio gave a violin solo at the last performances of the Queensland Theatre on 6 September 1880, the audience was so delighted as to insist on his returning for a third time, and it was later observed that his usual superb performance was indeed excelled on this occasion.
The new settlers delighted in Antonio's playing of Victorian favourites such as `Home, Sweet Home' and `The Blue Bells of Scotland' , which helped to sustain the colonists in their isolation from their birthplaces. His own compositions, such as `Il Vesuvio' and a fantasia on motifs from Bellini's `La Beatrice di Tenda' , which when performed on the G string alone, bought comments of `brilliant manipulation' and `rare taste and style', were well received. It is of interest to recall that Paganini was noted for his single string playing.
It was natural that the musical talents of the older Benvenuti should combine with those of his sons to form a family orchestra, although each of the Benvenuti sons pursued an individual career according to his own interests and talents; thus the Benvenuti family orchestra was able to draw on the skills of Victor on piano, Luigi on double bass and Italo on flute. Providing accompaniment for theatrical productions, the orchestra gained recognition for novelty and efficacy of performance, and improvisation in the face of defective scores.
Antonio's orchestra provided pleasant music on boat trips, performing effortlessly thoughout the day, blending violin, clarinet and cornet, neither too loud nor too soft, but properly chosen either to enliven or to relax, depending on the mood of the occasion. Additional to these contributions to the musical life of the city, the Benvenutis participated in a wide variety of social functions in Brisbane and the country. They were also involved in an opera company formed in the later part of 1879.
After his tour with the Italian Opera Company the elder Benvenuti settled into the musical life of Brisbane as a teacher of the violin, providing beneficial instruction to many of Brisbane's earliest violinists. Catherine having predeceased him on 8 August 1890, Antonio passed the last years of his life quietly at his home in Brisbane, and after a short illness, he died on 21 April 1896, aged 76 years.
Subject and Association Description
Parents: Angelo Benvenuti married ?
Married: March 1858, London ENGLAND
Spouse: Catherine Mary Barnett
Children: Luigi Antonio, Italo Angelo and Victor Guiseppe
Resided: 1871 Brisbane QLD
In 1874 Antonio purchased approximately forty–five perches of land in Agnes Street Fortitude Valley. In 1879 he built a timber house on the lot that he called “Italia” and this was the family house for the next twenty years.
With his three sons, who were also proficient musicians, the Benvenuti family continued to travel extensively throughout Queensland and Australia providing musical entertainment. All three of Antonio’s sons were fine musicians and the four of them were collectively known as the Benvenuti Quartet.
In 1890 the Benvenutis built another house beside the first on 31 Agnes Street. This was a two-storey timber house with dual front verandahs. This residence was rented out over the years to various tenants, the first being Frank Pallymen, a watchmaker. This property remained in the Benvenuti name until 1901 when it was sold to Ola Peter Troedson who was first listed at the Fortitude Valley address in the Electoral Rolls in 1901.
In 1899 the Benvenutis built another house on the other side of the original home. 23 Agnes Street followed the same design as 31 Agnes Street. This residence was to be home for Victor Benvenuti, Antonio’s son. Victor was first listed at the address in 1900 as a musician. Victor was important in the Brisbane music scene in this period in his own right. As well as being an integral part of the Benvenuti Quartet, Victor was the conductor for Brisbane’s Theatre Royal for many years and played an important role in Brisbane’s cultural life.
The three houses on Agnes Street are important surviving residences connected to the Benvenuti family. As a set of intact timber houses built in the late nineteenth century they are rare remnants of the residential nature of this part of Fortitude Valley prior to the increase of commerce and industry in the area.
The three residences on Agnes Street were built in succession between 1879 and 1899. The houses were built by the Benvenuti family; two were resided in by family members. The Benvenuti family were an influential musical family who contributed to the early cultural life of Brisbane and Queensland. 23, 27 and 31 Agnes Street demonstrate not only the residential development of Fortitude Valley in the late nineteenth century, but also the importance of close knit family connections in many immigrant families in Brisbane in this period.
Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre
Name/Title
Antonio Giovanni BENVENUTI, b. 1820 (approx), Padua ITALY, d. 21st April 1896, Brisbane QLD
About this object
Antonio Giovanni Benvenuti was born c.1820 in Padua, Italy, into a distinguished musical family, one forebear of which was the teacher of Arcangelo Corelli. After receiving a sound musical education, Antonio took a position in a concert company with which he toured Europe for some years, receiving considerable praise for his facility with the works of Paganini. In London he played with the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He married Catherine Barnett in London in March 1858, and the marriage was blessed with three sons.
On 10 June 1871 the Benvenuti family left London on the barque `Polmaise', bound for Australia, and arrived at Brisbane on 19 September 1871 after an eventful journey. During the trip, passengers Somerset and Tuckett were forced to take over the wheel to prevent the ship going over on beam ends and capsizing during a storm.
As settlers the Benvenutis were entitled to a 140 acre land order, and it was not long before the elder Benvenuti was deeply involved in the musical life of the infant colony. Antonio's rare facility and perfection of technique with the violin soon established him as one of the foremost musicians in early Brisbane, so much so that he was billed as `the modern Paganini'. He played in the popular concerts organised by the Queensland musical pioneer, Richard Jefferies, and later played second violin in Jefferies' chamber music quartet. He also played at the Royal Victoria Theatre (later known as Brisbane's Theatre Royal), and went on tour with the Italian Opera Company, performing in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
When Antonio gave a violin solo at the last performances of the Queensland Theatre on 6 September 1880, the audience was so delighted as to insist on his returning for a third time, and it was later observed that his usual superb performance was indeed excelled on this occasion.
The new settlers delighted in Antonio's playing of Victorian favourites such as `Home, Sweet Home' and `The Blue Bells of Scotland' , which helped to sustain the colonists in their isolation from their birthplaces. His own compositions, such as `Il Vesuvio' and a fantasia on motifs from Bellini's `La Beatrice di Tenda' , which when performed on the G string alone, bought comments of `brilliant manipulation' and `rare taste and style', were well received. It is of interest to recall that Paganini was noted for his single string playing.
It was natural that the musical talents of the older Benvenuti should combine with those of his sons to form a family orchestra, although each of the Benvenuti sons pursued an individual career according to his own interests and talents; thus the Benvenuti family orchestra was able to draw on the skills of Victor on piano, Luigi on double bass and Italo on flute. Providing accompaniment for theatrical productions, the orchestra gained recognition for novelty and efficacy of performance, and improvisation in the face of defective scores.
Antonio's orchestra provided pleasant music on boat trips, performing effortlessly thoughout the day, blending violin, clarinet and cornet, neither too loud nor too soft, but properly chosen either to enliven or to relax, depending on the mood of the occasion. Additional to these contributions to the musical life of the city, the Benvenutis participated in a wide variety of social functions in Brisbane and the country. They were also involved in an opera company formed in the later part of 1879.
After his tour with the Italian Opera Company the elder Benvenuti settled into the musical life of Brisbane as a teacher of the violin, providing beneficial instruction to many of Brisbane's earliest violinists. Catherine having predeceased him on 8 August 1890, Antonio passed the last years of his life quietly at his home in Brisbane, and after a short illness, he died on 21 April 1896, aged 76 years.
Subject and Association Description
Parents: Angelo Benvenuti married ?
Married: March 1858, London ENGLAND
Spouse: Catherine Mary Barnett
Children: Luigi Antonio, Italo Angelo and Victor Guiseppe
Resided: 1871 Brisbane QLD
Events
| Birth | 15 Oct 1820 | Padua, Italy |  | ||
| Marriage | 6 Mar 1858 | St Pancras Old Church, London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom - Catherine Mary BARNETT | |||
| Death | 21 Apr 1896 | " Italia", 27 Agnes St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland, Australian Colonies |
Families
| Spouse | Catherine Mary BARNETT (1834 - ) |
| Child | Luigi Antonio BENVENUTI (1859 - 1934) |
| Child | Italo Angelo BENVENUTI (1860 - ) |
| Child | Victor Joseph BENVENUTI (1862 - ) |
| Father | Angelo BENVENUTI ( - ) |
Notes
Birth
Padua, Padova, Province of Padua, ItalyPadua is a city in Northern Italy’s Veneto region. It’s known for the frescoes by Giotto in its Scrovegni Chapel from 1303–05 and the vast 13th-century Basilica of St. Anthony. The basilica, with its Byzantine-style domes and notable artworks, contains the namesake saint’s tomb. In Padua's old town are arcaded streets and stylish cafes frequented by students of the University of Padua, established in 1222.