Pasta Giuditta

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Pasta Giuditta (née Negri, Giuditta) (b Saronno, nr. Milan, 1797; d Blevio, nr. Lake Como, 1865). It. soprano, among greatest of opera singers. Début Milan 1816 in her teacher Scappa's Le tre Eleonore. London début 1817 (Telemachus in Cimarosa's Penelope; later sang Cherubino and Despina). Caused sensation in Paris, 1821–2. The immense range of her v. and her dramatic gifts were matched by poignancy of expression, though she was an uneven artist. Sang regularly in London, Paris, and St Petersburg 1824–37. Created role of Amina in La sonnambula, Milan 1831, and title-roles in Norma (Milan 1831, London 1833), Beatrice di Tenda (Venice 1833), and Anna Bolena (Milan 1830).