Strada, Anna Maria

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Strada, Anna Maria

Strada, Anna Maria, famous Italian soprano who flourished in the first half of the 18th century, also known under her married name as Anna Maria Strada del Pò . She was born in Bergamo. After serving Count Colloredo, governor of Milan, and singing in Venice (1720–21), she appeared in Naples (1724–26). She then was engaged by Handel for his opera and oratorio seasons in England, making her debut in London as Adelaide in the premiere of his Lotario in 1729, and remaining as his principal soprano until 1737. Handel also composed the following roles for her: Partenope (1730), Cleofide in Poro (1731), Fulvia in Ezio (1732), Elmira in Sosarme (1732), Angelica in Orlando (1733), Deborah (1733), Josabeth in Athalia (1733), Arianna (1734), Erato in Terpsicore (1734), Ginevra in Ariodante (1735), Aleina (1735), the soprano part in Alexander’s Feast (1736), Atalanta (1736), Tusnelda in Arminio (1737), Arianna in Giustino (1737), Berenice (1737), and Bellezza in II trionfo del tempo (1737). In 1738 she was called to Breda to sing for the Princess of Orange; after appearances with Senesino in Naples (1739–40), she retired to Bergamo.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire