Francesca Vanini-Boschi

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A caricature of Vanini-Boschi.
A caricature of Vanini-Boschi.

Francesca Vanini-Boschi (b Bologna; d Venice, 1744) was an Italian contralto singer of the 18th century. She is best remembered for her association with the composer George Frideric Handel, whom she sung for at both Italy and London, though she also sang in operas by Alessandro Scarlatti and Giovanni Bononcini. She frequently sang alongside her husband, the bass Giuseppe Maria Boschi. Her two Handel roles were those of Otho in Agrippina and Goffredo in Rinaldo; these roles utilise only a limited range and tessitura. After Rinaldo her voice began to decline, but earlier Giuseppe Felice Tosi had praised her for her ability to introduce "Graces without transgressing against Time".

[edit] Reference

Winton Dean: "Vanini [Boschi], Francesca", Grove Music Online ed L. Macy (Accessed 5 December 2006), grovemusic.com, subscription access.