Vestris, Lucia Elizabeth

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Vestris, Lucia Elizabeth (née Bartolozzi) (b London, 1797; d London, 1856). Eng. cont. Opera début London 1815. Sang at It. Opera, Paris, and King's Th., London, 1821–5. Wife of Auguste Armand Vestris, one of celebrated ballet family, who was ballet master at King's Th. 1809–17. Sang in Eng. f.ps. of several Rossini operas at King's Th. 1821–4. Frequently sang in Dublin, 1824–47. Created Fatima in Weber's Oberon, 1826. Became manager of CG 1839–42, having previously managed Olympic Th. 1831–8 and subsequently the Lyceum 1847–55, with her 2nd husband Charles Matthews. Sang male roles, incl. Don Giovanni.