Avoglio, Christina Maria

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Avoglio, Christina Maria

Avoglio, Christina Maria, Italian soprano who flourished in the 1st half of the 16th century. She became a favorite of Handel, who engaged her as his principal soprano for the 1741-42 Dublin season. On April 13, 1742, she sang in the premiere of his Messiah in Dublin. In 1743-44 she appeared at London’s Covent Garden. On Feb. 18, 1743, she sang in the premiere of Samson, and on Feb. 10, 1744, in the premiere of Semele there. She also created the role of Hecate in Samuel Howard’s pantomime The Amorous Goddess at London’s Drury Lane on Feb. 1, 1744. Her last appearance in London was at her benefit concert in 1746.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire