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Marietta AlboniFamous Italian opera singer-contralto
Date of Birth: 06.03.1826
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Biography of Marietta Alboni
- Career and Success
- International Recognition
- Unique Voice and Artistry
- Personal Life and Later Years
Biography of Marietta Alboni
Early Life and TrainingMarietta Alboni, a renowned Italian operatic contralto, was born on March 6, 1826 in a large family in Città di Castello, a small town in the Umbria region of Italy. She studied under composer Antonio Bagioli from Cesena, Emilia-Romagna, and later trained with the famous Gioachino Rossini.
Career and Success
At the age of sixteen, Marietta made her operatic debut as Climene in Giovanni Pacini's opera "Saffo" at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna in Bologna. Her success led to engagements at the renowned Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where she performed the role of Orsini in Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia" the following year. In 1846 and 1847, she toured all the capital cities and major cultural centers of Europe.
International Recognition
In London, Marietta sang at Covent Garden and became a rival to the Swedish soprano Jenny Lind, who was a star at Her Majesty's Theatre. In 1852 and 1853, Alboni toured the United States, performing with young French violinist Camilla Urso. She also sang a duet at the funeral of the renowned composer Rossini in Paris in 1868, alongside Italian soprano Adelina Patti.
Unique Voice and Artistry
Marietta Alboni possessed a flawless contralto voice with a range of two and a half octaves. Her voice had a unique tone, combining strength, freshness, richness, and remarkable flexibility. She was unrivaled in her performances, excelling in works that required precise delivery and almost religious devotion. Her emotional expressiveness added a velvety touch to her voice. Additionally, Alboni displayed liveliness, elegance, and charm reminiscent of a comedic actress and excelled in travesti roles. However, she was not a born tragic actress, and her attempt to portray the dramatic role of Norma was a theatrical failure.
Personal Life and Later Years
Marietta Alboni married Italian aristocrat Count Carlo Pepoli from the Papal States, but she retained her maiden name on stage. She gradually reduced her performances and sang for the last time at the Munich Opera House in 1872. In 1863, she temporarily left the stage to care for her ailing husband, but returned to touring a few years after his death. She married French military officer Charles Zieger in 1877. In her later years, Alboni experienced significant weight gain. She passed away on June 23, 1894 at the age of 68 at her villa "La Cenerentola" in Ville-d'Avray, near Paris, and was laid to rest in the Père Lachaise Cemetery. A street in Paris is named after her in her honor.
