Alboni, Marietta (Maria Anna Marzia)

views updated

Alboni, Marietta (Maria Anna Marzia) (b Città di Castello, 1823; d Villa d'Avray, France, 1894). It. contralto. So impressed Rossini that he taught her the cont. roles in his operas. Début Bologna and La Scala 1842. Leading cont. CG 1847, becoming rival attraction to Jenny Lind, her salary being voluntarily raised overnight from £500 to £2,000 for the season. Sang in Paris and toured USA 1852. Sang with Patti at Rossini's funeral, 1868. Retired from opera 1872 (because of obesity) but continued to give concerts seated in a chair.

More From encyclopedia.com