From Lodoiska to Lovinski: Camilla Balsamini stepping into Marchesi’s shoes

Rosa Cafiero*, Livio Aragona*

*Corresponding author

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Luigi Marchesi (1754-1829), «l'Oceano dei soprani» (The Ocean of Sopranos) — as Benedetto Frizzi (1757-1844) called him after hearing his performances in Trieste, in 1801 — was one of the most famous and most popular singers in ancien régime Europe, an outstanding star who lit up the musical world of his times. Endowed with a voice that encompassed an exceptionally wide range, and with a celebrated taste for acrobatic singing and extravagant embellishments, Marchesi soon became an almost mythological character. His biography, moreover, was linked to some striking political and philanthropical episodes that increased his fame among contemporaries and posterity: among them, his disdainful refusal to sing for Napoleon shortly after the victorious entry of the French army into Milan, on 14 May 1796. This volume represents a stage along a journey of historical reconnaissance and systematic academic research related to the famous singer.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Ocean of Sopranos. Career of a castrato Singer, Luigi Marchesi (1754-1829)
EditorsStefano Aresi, Nicholas Baragwanath, Rosa Cafiero
Pages251-292
Number of pages42
Volume2
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Publication series

NameSTUDIES ON VOCAL MUSIC

Keywords

  • castrato singers
  • performance practice
  • tecniche vocali
  • evirati cantori
  • prassi esecutiva
  • singing technique

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'From Lodoiska to Lovinski: Camilla Balsamini stepping into Marchesi’s shoes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this