Caterina Galli facts for kids

Caterina Galli (born around 1723, died 1804) was a famous Italian opera singer. She was known as a mezzo-soprano, which means she sang with a voice that was lower than a soprano but higher than a contralto. Caterina became very popular in England in the 1740s and early 1750s. People especially loved her performances in the musical works of George Frideric Handel, a very famous composer. After her success in England, she returned to Italy in the 1750s and 1760s. Later, she came back to England and continued to perform until 1797.

Early Life as an Opera Singer

We don't know much about Caterina Galli's early life or how she trained to become a singer. We only know that it happened in Italy, her home country.

Caterina first arrived in London in 1742 with another opera singer, Giulia Frasi. She performed on the London stage for the first time on December 12, 1742. She played the role of Artaserse in a new opera called Mandane. A music historian named Charles Burney wrote that Galli "took root in this country" and was very popular for many years.

Most of the roles Caterina sang in operas were called "breeches roles." This meant she played male characters, but she was a woman dressed in men's clothing. In 1753, she sang the part of the Spirit in a new version of Thomas Arne's opera, Alfred.

Working with Handel

Caterina Galli is best remembered for her work as an oratorio singer. Oratorios are like operas, but they are usually based on religious stories and are performed without costumes or stage action. Caterina was a student of George Frideric Handel, one of the greatest composers of his time.

She sang in the very first performances of many of Handel's famous oratorios:

• Judas Maccabaeus (1747)
• Joshua (1747)
• Alexander Balus (1748)
• Solomon (1749)
• Susanna (1749)
• Theodora (1749)
• Jephtha (1752)

She also performed in other works by Handel at the King's Theatre in London.

Success in Italy

In 1754, Caterina Galli went back to Italy. For about 10 years, she performed in major opera houses in cities like Genoa, Naples, and Venice.

On July 10, 1758, she created the role of Valentiniano III in a new opera called Ezio by Gaetano Latilla. This performance took place at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. She also performed in other new operas there.

At the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice, she played Giulia Mammea in the first performance of Alessandro Severo in 1762. In 1766, she sang the main role in Josef Mysliveček's first opera, Semiramide, in Bergamo.

Later Career in England

After 1770, Caterina Galli returned to London and continued to perform. She had a big success in 1773 as a singer in Handel's famous oratorio, Messiah, at the Haymarket Theatre. That same year, she sang in another opera at the King's Theatre.

Caterina mostly performed at the King's Theatre for the rest of her career. She sang in both serious and funny operas. In 1777, she announced she was retiring and gave a farewell concert in London.

Galli was a close friend of another singer named Martha Ray. After some financial difficulties, Caterina came out of retirement in her 60s. She continued to perform as an oratorio singer and in operas at Covent Garden as late as 1797, when she was 70 years old. However, these later performances were not as popular as her earlier ones. She lived in London until she passed away in 1804.