Ballabene and the twilight of an era

Apart from Ballabene’s institutional role from the 1780s onwards as one of the examiners of the maestri di cappella section of the Congregazione di Santa Cecilia, there is no evidence of any greater career successes after the 1776 Mass rehearsal. In fact, it seems that up to this point powerful adversaries within the congregation itself had hindered any advancement. ¹ Despite all Ballabene’s endeavours, any effect of the Mass rehearsal on his professional career was very modest: still in the 1780s, he continued to find himself compelled to teach children at an orphanage in order to make a living. ²