GIULIA GRISI (1847)

Soprano whose briliant dramatic voice established her as an operatic prima donna for over 30 years.

She made her debut at age 17 in nRossini´s Zelmira and in 1830 Bellini wrote for her the part of Giuletta in I Capuleti ed i Montecchi.

At 20 in Milan she created the part of Adalgisa in Bellini´s Norma, then broke her Milan contract and went to Paris where she appeared in the title role in Rossini´s opera Semiramide (1832).

She continued succesful appearances in Paris until 1849.

In 1834 as Anna Bolena in Donizetti´s opera, she also began a long career in London.

In 1835 Bellini wrote I puritani for the great quartet of Grisi, the bass Luigi Lablache, the tenor Giovanni Battista Rubini and the Antonio Tamburini.

In 1839 the tenor Giovanni Mario (later Grisi´s second husband) replaced Rubini and for them Donizetti wrote Don Pasquale. 

This quartet reigned supreme for about 25 years.