Luigi Groto
Luigi Groto, also called '''Cieco d'Adria
or Cieco D'Hadria''' (the blind man of Adria) (7 September 1541,
Adria – 13 December 1585,
Venezia), was a blind Italian poet, lutenist, playwright and actor. Groto was born in
Veneto and lost his sight eight days after birth. He studied philosophy and literature with such success that at the age of 15 he was already a public orator. He was often in Venice as an envoy from Veneto, and entertained with public performances of his songs. In 1565 he was appointed president of the newly founded Academy of Illustrati of Adria. He died in
Venice, having just come from the theater where he had played the role of the blind
King Oedipus. In 1623
Filippo Bonaffino set some of his poetry to music in a book of madrigals.
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