Giuseppe Maria Boschi

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Giuseppe Maria Boschi (b ?Mantua; fl 1698–1744) was an Italian bass - though in modern terms a baritone - of the 18th century. He is best remembered for his association with the composer George Frideric Handel, whom he worked for in both Italy and London. After working at Genoa, Vincenza, Ferrara and Vienna, in 1709 he created the role of Pallas in Handel's Agrippina. He made his début in 1710, and from 1720 to 1728 he was engaged by the Royal Academy, where the sang in all of the 32 operas that the organisation produced during that time. These included 7 each by Bononcini and Ariosti, and 13 by Handel.

Boschi's tessitura was, in modern terms, that of a high baritone. Typically, it seems as though he excelled at so-called "rage arias", most of which Handel provided with energetic counterpoint. He created the roles of Achilla in Giulio Cesare, Garibaldo in Rodelinda, Lotario in Flavio, and Araspe in Tolomeo. Most of the parts he played were those of rulers or villains. In 1698 he married the contralto Francesca Vanini-Boschi.

[edit] Reference

Winton Dean: "Boschi, Giuseppe Maria", Grove Music Online ed L. Macy (Accessed 5 December 2006), grovemusic.com, subscription access.