Personalities | Katharina Cavalieri | Classical Era | Opera

1760–1801, Austrian

Katharina Cavalieri, the Austrian soprano, was both the student and the mistress of the court composer Antonio Salieri. In 1775, when she was 15, she made her debut in Vienna in the role of Sandrina in La finta giardiniera by Pasquale Anfossi (1727–97). Her voice was expressive and ‘full’, and she possessed a first-class singing technique. Though not beautiful, Cavalieri was graceful, and Mozart was much impressed with her. He wrote for her the role of Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and Elvira’s aria ‘Mi tradi’ in the Vienna revival of Don Giovanni. Cavalieri complained that Elvira did not have sufficient music to sing and the special aria was Mozart’s answer. In 1789, Cavalieri sang the role of the Countess Almaviva in a revival of Le nozze di Figaro. Considered one of the best among the very gifted singers in Vienna in the late eighteenth century, Cavalieri retired from the opera stage in 1793.

Introduction | Classical Era | Opera
Personalities | Domenico Cimarosa | Classical Era | Opera

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.