Matilda Marchesi de Castrone (Mathilde Marchesi) |

Mathilde Marchesi

In the early 40s of the 19th century, she studied with the Italian singer F. Ronconi (Frankfurt am Main), then with the composer O. Nicolai (Vienna), teacher-vocalist M. P. R. Garcia Jr. in Paris, where she took also lessons in recitation from the famous actor J. I. Sanson. In 1844 she performed for the first time in a public concert (Frankfurt am Main). In 1849-53 she gave concerts in many cities of Great Britain, performed in Brussels. From 1854 she taught singing at the conservatories in Vienna (1854-61, 1869-78), Cologne (1865-68) and at her own school in Paris (1861-1865 and from 1881).

She brought up a galaxy of outstanding singers, earning the nickname “maestro prima donnas.” Among her students are S. Galli-Marie, E. Calve de Roker, N. Melba, S. Arnoldson, E. Gulbranson, E. Gester, K. Klafsky, her daughter Blanche Marchesi and others. Marchesi highly appreciated G. Rossini . She was a member of the Roman Academy “Santa Cecilia”. Author of Praktische Gesang-Methode (1861) and his autobiography Erinnerungen aus meinem Leben (1877; translated into English Marchesi and music, 1897) ).

Husband Marchesi — Salvatore Marchesi de Castrone (1822-1908) is an Italian singer and teacher. He came from a noble noble family. In the 1840s took singing and composition lessons from P. Raimondi. After 1846 he continued his vocal studies under the direction of F. Lamperti in Milan. Participated in the Revolution of 1848, after which he was forced to emigrate. In 1848 he made his debut as an opera singer in New York. Returning to Europe, he improved with M. P. R. Garcia, Jr. in Paris.

He sang mainly on the stages of London’s opera houses, where he also performed for the first time as a concert singer. From the 50s. 19th century made numerous concert tours with his wife (Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, etc.). In the future, along with concert activities, he taught at the conservatories of Vienna (1854-61), Cologne (1865-68), Paris (1869-1878). Marchesi is also known as a composer, author of chamber vocal music (romances, canzonettes, etc.).

He published the “School of singing” (“Vocal method”), several other books on vocal art, as well as collections of exercises, vocalizations. He translated into Italian the libretto of Cherubini’s Medea, Spontini’s Vestal, Tannhäuser and Lohengrin, and others.

Marchesi’s daughter Blanche Marchesi de Castrone (1863-1940) Italian singer. Author of the memoir Singer’s Pilgrimage (1923).

S. M. Hryshchenko