Carolina Bassi


Carolina Bassi was an Italian contralto who knew Rossini, Meyerbeer, Donizetti and Bellini.

Life

Bassi was born in Naples to a musician family. Her brother Nicola, was a famous buffo bass; and another brother, Adolfo, who was a composer, operatic tenor and also an impresario of the Teatro [Lirico Giuseppe Verdi|Teatro Nuovo] in Trieste.
She retired in 1828, devoting herself to teaching opera singing. She died in Cremona in 1862.

Family

Bassi was married to Cremona's nobleman, Pietro Manna. They had a son, Ruggero Manna, a composer and Chapel Master of the Cathedral of Cremona from 1835 to 1864.

Musical career

Bassi was known as "La Napoletana", one of the noted singers of her era. She was the first interpreter of many works of her repertoire. The roles that gave her a particular success were Semiramide riconosciuta, Margherita d'Anjou, L'esule di Granata, all by Meyerbeer, Bianca e Falliero by Rossini, and some works by Giovanni Pacini and Saverio Mercadante. She performed in many noted Italian and foreign theatres, including Teatro [alla Scala] in Milan, Teatro [Regio |Teatro Regio] in Turin, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
She sung in premiere performances of the following operas: