Giacinta Toso
Encyclopedia
Giacinta Toso (also Toso Puzzi or Puzzi Toso), Maman Puzzi, was an Italian
opera
tic soprano
who had a significant career in England during the 1820s and 1830s, before ill health forced her to retire from the stage. For over half a century thereafter, she and her husband maintained a musical salon in London through which many of the greatest musical stars of the age made their entry into musical life in England.
who in early youth took up the cornet à pistons, and was brought before the public as a child prodigy
. He was taken to Paris, where he played in an orchestra, and was heard and admired by Napoleon Bonaparte, who made of him a favourite, and invited him to play and dine at his own table. The Duke of Wellington
heard him there in 1815 and invited him to London, to Apsley House
, and Puzzi made his way there in the following year. He also received the patronage of Louis Philippe
. In addition to his admirable performance skills, he won special recognition as a most reliable judge of the abilities of young singers starting out, and for his complete ability in making the musical arrangements for the Italian opera.
Puzzi was sent to Florence to hear Signorina Adelaide Tosi
, who had been spoken of favourably in England, heard her, and was disappointed. But he was redirected to Turin to hear Signorina Toso, whom he found to have great personal beauty, a 'natural but impassioned style, a pure vocal method and brilliant vocalization', and 'a fine, clear, fresh and melodious mezzo-soprano voice of considerable power'. So he engaged her, and she arrived in London in February 1827, where she soon succeeded Mme Rosalbina Caradori-Allen. Lord Mount Edgcumbe
described her voice as of great compass, her upper notes clear and full, and the lower having the richness of a mezzo-soprano
. Puzzi was so taken with her that he soon made her his wife.
For her benefit, Mercadante
's Didone abbandonata (of 1823) was performed with Toso as Aeneas
opposite Mme Pasta as Dido. John Waldie saw her in the opera Ricciardo, and thought she was 'awkward and screaming, without cultivation or science, tho' powerful and young and very tall'. In the same year she created the role of Queen Mary Stuart in the opera of that name by Carlo Coccia
, opposite Giuditta Pasta
, at His Majesty's Theatre
in London. The Puzzis appeared in the musical life of various parts of Britain, such as the Royal Eisteddfod of 1828.
Puzzi Toso was Elisabetta in the difficult première of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda
opposite Maria Malibran
and Ignazio Marini
at La Scala
in December 1835, when the score, notably Elisabetta's part, was severely pruned.
) in their Piccadilly salon at 38, Jermyn Street
, which were attended by press magnates, patrons from the nobility, etc. Italo Gardoni
was among those introduced in this way from Paris. Antonio Giuglini
was a particular protégé of 'Mamma' Puzzi's, who protected him from predatory women and assisted in some of his escapades.
The Puzzis had daughters, the third of whom, Fanny Puzzi, was herself an accomplished singer. Giovanni Puzzi in later life spent a good deal of time in Italy for his health, while Mme Puzzi remained in England as singing instructress to the daughters of the nobility.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
who had a significant career in England during the 1820s and 1830s, before ill health forced her to retire from the stage. For over half a century thereafter, she and her husband maintained a musical salon in London through which many of the greatest musical stars of the age made their entry into musical life in England.
Professional and matrimonial engagement
She began her career as Giacinta Toso, and was singing in Turin when she was first engaged to appear in England. Her story is closely involved with that of her husband, the horn-player Giovanni Puzzi. He was an ItalianItalian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
who in early youth took up the cornet à pistons, and was brought before the public as a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
. He was taken to Paris, where he played in an orchestra, and was heard and admired by Napoleon Bonaparte, who made of him a favourite, and invited him to play and dine at his own table. The Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
heard him there in 1815 and invited him to London, to Apsley House
Apsley House
Apsley House, also known as Number One, London, is the former London residence of the Dukes of Wellington. It stands alone at Hyde Park Corner, on the south-east corner of Hyde Park, facing south towards the busy traffic interchange and Wellington Arch...
, and Puzzi made his way there in the following year. He also received the patronage of Louis Philippe
Louis Philippe
Louis Philippe may refer to:*Louis-Philippe I, King of the French, last King of France*Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, called King Louis Philippe II by some factions*Louis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans*Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans...
. In addition to his admirable performance skills, he won special recognition as a most reliable judge of the abilities of young singers starting out, and for his complete ability in making the musical arrangements for the Italian opera.
Puzzi was sent to Florence to hear Signorina Adelaide Tosi
Adelaide Tosi
Adelaide Tosi was an Italian operatic soprano.Born in Milan, Tosi studied with Girolamo Crescentini before making her professional opera debut in her native city in 1821. She portrayed Azema in the premiere of Giacomo Meyerbeer's L'esule di Granata at La Scala on 12 March 1822...
, who had been spoken of favourably in England, heard her, and was disappointed. But he was redirected to Turin to hear Signorina Toso, whom he found to have great personal beauty, a 'natural but impassioned style, a pure vocal method and brilliant vocalization', and 'a fine, clear, fresh and melodious mezzo-soprano voice of considerable power'. So he engaged her, and she arrived in London in February 1827, where she soon succeeded Mme Rosalbina Caradori-Allen. Lord Mount Edgcumbe
Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe PC , styled Viscount Valletort between 1789 and 1795, was a British politician and writer on music.-Background:...
described her voice as of great compass, her upper notes clear and full, and the lower having the richness of a mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
. Puzzi was so taken with her that he soon made her his wife.
For her benefit, Mercadante
Saverio Mercadante
Giuseppe Saverio Raffaele Mercadante was an Italian composer, particularly of operas. While Mercadante may not have retained the international celebrity of Gaetano Donizetti or Gioachino Rossini beyond his own lifetime, he composed as impressive a number of works as either; and his development of...
's Didone abbandonata (of 1823) was performed with Toso as Aeneas
Aeneas
Aeneas , in Greco-Roman mythology, was a Trojan hero, the son of the prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite. His father was the second cousin of King Priam of Troy, making Aeneas Priam's second cousin, once removed. The journey of Aeneas from Troy , which led to the founding a hamlet south of...
opposite Mme Pasta as Dido. John Waldie saw her in the opera Ricciardo, and thought she was 'awkward and screaming, without cultivation or science, tho' powerful and young and very tall'. In the same year she created the role of Queen Mary Stuart in the opera of that name by Carlo Coccia
Carlo Coccia
Carlo Coccia was an Italian opera composer. He was known for the genre of opera semiseria.- Life and career :...
, opposite Giuditta Pasta
Giuditta Pasta
Giuditta Angiola Maria Costanza Pasta , born in Saronno, Italy, was a soprano considered among the greatest of opera singers, to whom the 20th-century soprano Maria Callas was compared.-Studies and career:...
, at His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen is the largest theatre in north-east Scotland, seating more than 1400. The theatre is sited on Rosemount Viaduct, opposite the city's Union Terrace Gardens. It was designed by Frank Matcham and opened in 1906...
in London. The Puzzis appeared in the musical life of various parts of Britain, such as the Royal Eisteddfod of 1828.
Puzzi Toso was Elisabetta in the difficult première of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda
Maria Stuarda
Maria Stuarda is a tragic opera, , in two acts, by Gaetano Donizetti, to a libretto by Giuseppe Bardari, based on Friedrich Schiller's 1800 play Maria Stuart....
opposite Maria Malibran
Maria Malibran
The mezzo-soprano Maria Malibran , was one of the most famous opera singers of the 19th century. Malibran was known for her stormy personality and dramatic intensity, becoming a legendary figure after her death at age 28...
and Ignazio Marini
Ignazio Marini
Ignazio Marini was a celebrated Italian operatic bass. He sang in the world premieres of several operas by Gaetano Donizetti, Saverio Mercadante, and Giuseppe Verdi and appeared as a guest artist in major opera houses throughout Europe and in New York City and Cairo.-Biography:Ignazio Marini was...
at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
in December 1835, when the score, notably Elisabetta's part, was severely pruned.
Premature end of singing career
Her career came to a premature end when, after a performance, she had to wait in pouring rain in the draughty entrance of a London theatre, and caught a severe cold which developed into rheumatic fever: this was not properly diagnosed, and took many months to overcome. After this the Puzzis became vocal professors and managers, and hosted many celebrity concerts (often accompanied by Michael CostaMichael Costa (conductor)
Sir Michael Andrew Angus Costa was an Italian-born conductor and composer who achieved success in England.-Biography:He was born in Naples as Michaele Andrea Agniello Costa, to a family, according to some, of Sephardic stock...
) in their Piccadilly salon at 38, Jermyn Street
Jermyn Street
Jermyn Street is a street in the City of Westminster, central London, to the south, parallel and adjacent to Piccadilly.It is well known as a street where the shops are almost exclusively aimed at the Gentleman's market and is famous for its resident shirtmakers Jermyn Street is a street in the...
, which were attended by press magnates, patrons from the nobility, etc. Italo Gardoni
Italo Gardoni
Italo Gardoni was a leading operatic tenore di grazia singer from Italy who enjoyed a major international career during the middle decades of the 19th century...
was among those introduced in this way from Paris. Antonio Giuglini
Antonio Giuglini
Antonio Giuglini was an Italian operatic tenor. During the last eight years of his life, before he developed signs of mental instability, he earned renown as one of the leading stars of the operatic scene in London...
was a particular protégé of 'Mamma' Puzzi's, who protected him from predatory women and assisted in some of his escapades.
The Puzzis had daughters, the third of whom, Fanny Puzzi, was herself an accomplished singer. Giovanni Puzzi in later life spent a good deal of time in Italy for his health, while Mme Puzzi remained in England as singing instructress to the daughters of the nobility.