HASSE, JOHANN ADOLPH (1699-1783), German musi cal composer, was born at Bergedorf near Hamburg, on March 25, 1699. After singing in a travelling operatic company and at the court theatre of Brunswick, he made his debut as a composer at that theatre with the opera Antigonus. Afterwards he went to Italy to complete his studies under Porpora, with whom, however, he seems to have disagreed both as a man and as an artist. But he gained the friendship of Alessandro Scarlatti, to whom he owed his first commission for a serenade for two voices, sung by two of the greatest singers of Italy, Farinelli and Signora Tesi. Sub sequently his opera Sesostrato, written for the Royal Opera at Naples in 1726, made his name known all over Italy. He then spent some years in Venice, where he married (173o) the soprano singer Faustina Bordogni (1693-1783) with whom he was invited by the splendour-loving elector of Saxony, Augustus II. In Hasse was invited to London by the aristocratic clique inimical to Handel. But he modestly and wisely declined to become the great master's rival, remaining in London only long enough to superintend the rehearsals for his opera Artaserse (first produced at Venice, 1730). Meanwhile Faustina had remained at Dresden, the declared favourite of the public and unfortunately also of the elector; her husband, who remained attached to her was only allowed to see her at long intervals. In 1739, after the death of Augustus II., Hasse settled permanently at Dresden till 1763, when he and his wife retired from court service. Later, however, he went with his family to Vienna, and added several operas to the great number of his works already in existence. His last work for the stage was the opera Ruggiero (1771), written for the wedding of Archduke Ferdinand at Milan. On the same occasion a work by Mozart, then fourteen years old, was performed, and Hasse observed "this youngster will surpass us all." Hasse died at Venice on Dec. 23, 1783.
His compositions include 120 operas, besides oratorios, can tatas, masses, and many instrumental works, all now forgotten though the popularity which many of them enjoyed during the composer's life time was enormous. The two airs which Farinelli had to repeat every day for ten years to the melancholy king of Spain, Philip V., were both from Hasse's works.