Vittoria Tesi Italian contralto opera singer and music teacher of the 18th century Date of Birth: 13.02.1700 Country: Austria

1. Biography of Vittoria Tesi
2. Early Career
3. European Travels
4. Career Peak and Collaborations
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Vittoria Tesi

Vittoria Tesi, also known as La Fiorentina, was an Italian opera singer and music educator of the 18th century. She was born on February 13, 1700, in Florence, Italy.

Early Career

Tesi's opera career began in 1716 at the age of 16 with performances in Parma and Bologna. By 1718, she became a court singer, or "virtuosa di camera," for Francesco Farnese, Prince of Parma, in Venice. A year later, she performed in Dresden alongside the famous castrato singer Senesino and soprano Margherita Durastanti, in works by baroque composer Antonio Lotti.

European Travels

In 1721, Tesi returned to Italy for the Florentine Carnival and spent the next 26 years traveling throughout Europe, including performances at the court of Philip V in Madrid and possibly in Frankfurt. Despite her travels, Italy remained the country where Tesi spent most of her life, moving from city to city each season.

Career Peak and Collaborations

Tesi's career reached its peak in the late 1730s and continued triumphantly into the next decade. She performed on the same stage as highly popular and influential castrati singers Farinelli and Caffarelli. In 1744, she played the leading role in the premiere of Christoph Willibald Gluck's heroic opera "Ipermestra" in Venice. In 1748, she participated in the premiere of Gluck's "Semiramide riconosciuta," based on a libretto by Italian dramatist and librettist Pietro Metastasio. This performance convinced Metastasio of Tesi's unquestionable talent, even though he had previously referred to her as "grandissima nullità" or "the greatest mediocrity."

Later Years and Legacy

After successfully performing in Niccolò Jommelli's operas "Achille in Sciro" and "Didone abbandonata" in 1749, both set to Metastasio's libretti, Tesi began appearing on stage less frequently. She officially ended her opera career in 1750. In 1751, she became the costume director at the Viennese court, where she spent many years and was a favorite of Countess Maria Theresia Ahlefeldt. Tesi also dedicated her time to teaching music and had notable students such as soprano Caterina Gabrielli, Anna Lucia de Amicis-Buonsolazzi, and Elisabeth Teyber.

In Vienna, Tesi crossed paths with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his father Leopold, as well as the infamous adventurer Casanova. Vittoria Tesi passed away on May 9, 1775, in Vienna, leaving behind a legacy as a renowned contralto and a respected music educator.