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Farinelli became a royal favourite and very influential at court.

For the remaining nine years of Philip's life, Farinelli gave nightly private concerts to the royal couple.

He also sang for other members of the royal family and organised private performances by them, and by professional musicians in the royal palaces.

In 1738 he arranged for an entire Italian opera company to visit Madrid, beginning a fashion for opera seria in the Spanish capital.

The Coliseo of the royal palace of Buen Retiro was remodelled, and became Madrid's only opera house.