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It was through Metastasio, too, that he was introduced to Niccolo
Porpora, the famous singing-master who taught the great
Farinelli, and whose name is sufficiently familiar from its
connection with an undertaking set on foot by Handel's enemies in
London. Porpora seems at this time to have ruled Vienna as a sort
of musical director and privileged censor, to have been, in fact,
what Rossini was for many years in Paris. He was giving lessons
to the mistress of Correr, the Venetian ambassador--a "rare
musical enthusiast"--and he employed Haydn to act as accompanist
during the lessons.
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