Cesare Bossi

Cesare Bossi (1773—September 1802) was an Italian-born composer. He is most known as a composer of ballets which he wrote for the King's Theatre in Haymarket in London.

Career

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Bossi was born in Ferrara in 1773.[1]

None of the sources provide information about his training or early career. One source states that while in Italy he wrote operas as well as piano music including sonatas.[1]

In 1795, he emigrated to London.[2][3] There he became associated with the King's Theatre in Haymarket where he was a composer of ballets, a conductor, and responsible for the musical preparation of operas. "In this task there have been few who could excel him."[4][3] His association with the theatre lasted from 1795 to 1796 through the 1799–1800 season. Most of his ballets were written between 1796 and 1800.[3] It was said that he composed with "unexampled rapidity", and that his melodies were of high quality.[4]

He married a Mademoise del Caro, a dancer in the company. She began to be billed as "Madame Bossi" as of 6 February 1796.[3] By 2 June 1800, the couple were living at No. 1 Great Suffolk Street.[3]

In September 1802, the Monthly Mirror reported that Bossi had died in the King's Bench Prison "of a deep decline." The paper called him "A musical professor of eminent talents."[3] He left his widow Del Caro and four children.[4]

List of works

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Ballets[3]

Title Date of first performance Choreographer Remarks
Acis and Galatea 10 June 1797 Charles Didelot[5]
Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene 26 March 1801 Charles Didelot[6] co-composed with Vincenzo Federici
L’amant statue 21 April 1796 Giacomo Onorati[7]
L’amour vangé 2 June 1796 Charles Didelot[8]
Apollon berger 27 December 1796 Sébastian Gallet[9]
Bacchus and Ariadne 28 November 1797 Sébastian Gallet[10]
Barader 29 May 1800 James Harvey D'Egville[11]
La chasse d'amour 2 January 1798 Sébastian Gallet[12]
Cinderella or The glass slipper 1803?[13]
Constante et Alcidonis 1798 Sébastian Gallet[14]
Les délassements militaires 16 January 1797 Sébastian Gallet[15] co-composed with Joseph Mazzinghi
The deserter 12 February 1799 Sébastian Gallet[16] based on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteur
Les deux jumelles 1799 James Harvey D'Egville[17]
Flore et Zephire 7 July 1796 Charles Didelot[18]
Heliska ou La fille soldat 16 June 1801 Charles Didelot[19]
L’heureux retour 28 March 1797 Sébastian Gallet[20]
Hylas et Témire 1799 James Harvey D'Egville[21]
Irza 2 February 1802 James Harvey D'Egville[22]
Les jeux d’Eglé 11 January 1800 James Harvey D'Egville[23]
Jugement de Midas 20 February 1802 James Harvey D'Egville[24]
Ken-Si and Tao 14 May 1801 Charles Didelot[25]
Laura et Lenza 8 May 1800 Charles Didelot[26]
Little Peggy's love 21 April 1796 Charles Didelot[27]
Le marchand de Smyrne 1799? Monsieur Barré[28]
L’offrande a Terpsichore 28 November 1797 Sébastian Gallet[29]
Pigmalion 3 January 1801 James Harvey D'Egville[30]
Télémaque 26 March 1799 James Harvey D'Egville[31] co-composed with James Harvey D'Egville
Le triomphe de Thémis 1798 Sébastian Gallet[32]

Other works

  • Overture to Blue Beard (opera by Michael Kelly) (most vocal scores of the opera have Kelly's own overture)
  • Pas de trois from La fille mal gardée (bulk of ballet composed by unidentified composer, 18 April 1799)
  • Hornpipe from Barbara and Allen (ballet by James Harvey D'Egville)
  • Variations, D minor, piano[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b John Denison Champlin, Cyclopedia of music & musicians (New York: Scribner, 1888), vol. 1, p. 217.
  2. ^ A Dictionary of Musicians from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time... (London: Sainsbury & Co., 1824), vol. 1 p. 108.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Philip H. Highfill, et al., A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London, 1660-1800 (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1973), vol. 2, page 240-241.
  4. ^ a b c William Bingley, Musical biography 2nd edition (London: Henry Colburn, 1834), vol. 2, p. 310.
  5. ^ "Acis and Galatea : the favorite grand ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
  6. ^ RISM 991014583 Alonzo the brave and the fair Imogene
  7. ^ "The favourite ballet of L'Amant statue : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
  8. ^ "L'amour vangé : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket for Madme. Rose's benefit | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
  9. ^ "The pastoral ballet of Apollon berger : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Bacchus & Ariadne : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre, 1797-8 | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  11. ^ "The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  12. ^ "The celebrated La chasse in the divertisment ballet of La chasse d'amour : being the overture to Le jeune Henri | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Cinderella's minuet : as danced by Miss De Camp & Mr. Byrne, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in the grand spectacle of Cinderella | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Constante et Alcidonis. a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre, Haymarket, 1798 | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Les delassements militaires : the favorite divertisment | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  16. ^ "The deserter : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, 1799 | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  17. ^ "The favorite divertisment Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Flore et Zephire a grand ballet | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
  19. ^ "Six opera divertimentos from Heliska, ou La fille soldat : a favorite dance as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  20. ^ "The favorite divertissement ballet called L'heureux retour, ou Le vainqueur genereux : as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  21. ^ "The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Irza : a favorite ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
  23. ^ "Les jeux d'Egle : the favorite grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  24. ^ "The judgement of Midas : a new divertisment ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Didelot's much admired Chinese ballet entitled Ken-si and Tao | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Laura et Lenza : a grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Little Peggy's love : the favorite Scotch ballet, performed at the Kings Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  28. ^ "The favorite divertissement of Le marchand de Smyrne | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  29. ^ "The favorite air danced by Mr. & Mrs. Laborie in the ballet of L'offrande à Therpsicore : arranged as a rondo for the piano forte | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Pigamlion : a grand ballet, performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Telemaque : grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Hay-Market | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
  32. ^ "Le Triomphe de Themis, a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, '97-'98 | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
  33. ^ RISM 454016874 Variations
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