Abel, Carl Friedrich (1723–87) Composer and bass viol player. He studied with his father Christian Ferdinand (a former colleague of J. S. Bach) and accepted a position in the Dresden court orchestra around 1743. He left Dresden in 1757–8 and moved to London, where he established a concert series (1765–81) in association with Johann Christian Bach. Abel’s compositions are mostly instrumental, and include symphonies, concertos and works for his own instrument.

Agricola, Johann Friedrich (1720–74) German composer and writer on music. A student of J. S. Bach, he moved to Berlin in 1741 and established himself as a leading commentator on aesthetic issues of the day, in addition to producing an important translation of Tosi’s singing treatise (1757). He sang the tenor part in the premiere of Graun’s Der Tod Jesu, and was widely respected as an organist and composer.

Aguiari [Agujari], Lucrezia [‘La bastardina’] (1743–83) Italian soprano. She studied initially in her native Ferrara, and made her operatic debut in Florence (1764). After a string of early successes she settled in Parma, where she was appointed virtuosa di camera in 1768. She created roles in operas by Paisiello, Gluck and her later husband Giuseppe Colla, and made her final stage appearances in 1782. Possessed of a remarkable range and fine acting ability, she was in demand across Europe.