Previous post for March 24th may be found here: Maria Malibran (2019), (2020), Fanny Crosby (2021), Elsa Respighi; John Antes (2022), Maria Malibran (2023), and Byron Janis (2024)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Maria Malibran (24 March 1808 – 23 September 1836) was a Spanish opera singer and one of the great divas of the nineteenth century.
Either/Or
She sang the male title role in Rossini's Tancredi and in Otello sang both the roles of Desdemona and of Otello. – heavily adapted from Wikipedia
The public paid top price to see
And hear her sing en travesti;
At other times she'd show her art
By acting in the female part.
Bel canto at its height depended
On patrons who were unoffended
When hearing love duets intended
For singers singing gender-bended.
If you enjoy these posts, please help me, and consider sharing. [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Takes: Great Art Repurposed.]
No comments:
Post a Comment