Tesi–Tramontini, Vittoria

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Tesi–Tramontini, Vittoria

Tesi-Tramontini, Vittoria, famous Italian contralto, known as La Moretta; b. Florence, Feb. 13, 1700; d. Vienna, May 9, 1775. She received her instruction in Florence and Bologna, appearing on the stage at the age of 16 in Parma in Dami; then was engaged in Venice (1718-19). She sang in Italy every year, and also appeared in Madrid (1739). In 1748 she sang the title role in Gluck’s Semiramide riconosciuta in Vienna, where she continued to appear until 1751; then devoted herself to teaching. She was married to one Tramontini, a barber by trade, and adopted the professional name Tesi-Tramontini. She was remarkably free in her morals, and many stories, in which it is impossible to separate truth from invention, were circulated about her life. Her letters to a priest were publ. by Benedetto Croce in his book Un Prelato e una cantante del secolo XVIII (Bari, 1946).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire