Isabella Girardeau
Encyclopedia
Isabella Girardeau was an Italian opera
tic soprano
who flourished in London
, England
from 1709-1712. Commonly referred to by the opera going public in London as "La Isabella", she is best remembered today for creating the role of Almirena in the momentous premiere of George Frideric Handel
's Rinaldo
on 24 February 1711 at the Queen's Theatre
in the Haymarket (it later became the "King's Theatre" after King George I
's accession in 1714) in which she introduced the famous aria "Lascia ch'io pianga
". She had succeeded Joanna Maria Lindelheim, "The Baroness", as one of the leading sopranos at that theatre. She is said to have had a bitter rivalry with the Queen's other prima donna
, the soprano Elisabetta Pilotti-Schiavonetti
.
wrote that she was an Italian married to a Frenchman. Burney tentatively connected her to soprano Isabella Calliari from musicologist Francesco Saverio Quadrio's list of singers who were active during the first two decades of the 18th century.
Girardeau most likely arrived in England from either France or Italy in late 1709. A contract with the players at the Queen's Theatre dated 24 December 1709 (in which the performers agreed not to work for other theatres without permission) lists "Mad Girardo" as one of the theatre's personnel. Girardeau made her stage debut in London as Celinda in the world premiere of Giovanni Bononcini's Almahide on 10 January 1710; a pastiche
of Bononcini's works which had been arranged by Johann Jakob Heidegger. Her only other known stage appearance that year was on 23 March as Mandana in Francesco Mancini
's La Isabella. In either late 1710 or early 1711 she sang in a concert given in the apartments of the Duchess of Shrewsbury
at Kensington Palace
.
In 1711 Girardeau was seen at the Queen's Theatre as Climene in Alessandro Scarlatti
's Pirro e Demetrio, Fronima in Bononcini's Etearco, and Almirena in the momentous premiere of George Frideric Handel
's Rinaldo
. Rinaldo was Handel's first opera written for the London stage, and it was the first Italian language opera written specifically for the English theatre. A tremendous success with the public, a further 12 performances were immediately scheduled after its premiere; at the end of the run, popular demand was such that two more were added. In 1712 she made her last known stage appearances as Oronte in Francesco Gasparini
's Antioco and Veremonda in Gasparini's Ambleto. Her whereabouts and activities beyond 1712 are unknown.
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 flourished in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
from 1709-1712. Commonly referred to by the opera going public in London as "La Isabella", she is best remembered today for creating the role of Almirena in the momentous premiere of George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's Rinaldo
Rinaldo (opera)
Rinaldo is an opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1711. It is the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage. The libretto was prepared by Giacomo Rossi from a scenario provided by Aaron Hill. The work was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in London's...
on 24 February 1711 at the Queen's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...
in the Haymarket (it later became the "King's Theatre" after King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
's accession in 1714) in which she introduced the famous aria "Lascia ch'io pianga
Lascia ch'io pianga
Lascia ch'io pianga is a soprano aria by composer George Frideric Handel which has become a popular concert piece. The melody for the song began its life as an Asian dance in his 1705 opera Almira. As an aria the piece was first used in Handel's 1707 oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno;...
". She had succeeded Joanna Maria Lindelheim, "The Baroness", as one of the leading sopranos at that theatre. She is said to have had a bitter rivalry with the Queen's other prima donna
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
, the soprano Elisabetta Pilotti-Schiavonetti
Elisabetta Pilotti-Schiavonetti
Elisabetta Pilotti-Schiavonetti was an Italian operatic soprano who was associated with the House of Hanover. She was one of the leading prima donnas at the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket from 1710 to 1717...
.
Life and career
Very little is known about Girardeau's life. Her place and date of birth and activities prior to December 1709 are unknown. Though often styled 'Mademoiselle', the 18th century music historian Charles BurneyCharles Burney
Charles Burney FRS was an English music historian and father of authors Frances Burney and Sarah Burney.-Life and career:...
wrote that she was an Italian married to a Frenchman. Burney tentatively connected her to soprano Isabella Calliari from musicologist Francesco Saverio Quadrio's list of singers who were active during the first two decades of the 18th century.
Girardeau most likely arrived in England from either France or Italy in late 1709. A contract with the players at the Queen's Theatre dated 24 December 1709 (in which the performers agreed not to work for other theatres without permission) lists "Mad Girardo" as one of the theatre's personnel. Girardeau made her stage debut in London as Celinda in the world premiere of Giovanni Bononcini's Almahide on 10 January 1710; a pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
of Bononcini's works which had been arranged by Johann Jakob Heidegger. Her only other known stage appearance that year was on 23 March as Mandana in Francesco Mancini
Francesco Mancini (composer)
Francesco Mancini was an Italian composer from Napoli.-Biography:He was an important teacher and managed to obtain his greatest duty during Alessandro Scarlatti's absence from Neapolitan court, between 1702 and 1708...
's La Isabella. In either late 1710 or early 1711 she sang in a concert given in the apartments of the Duchess of Shrewsbury
Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury
Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury, KG, PC was an English statesman. Born to Roman Catholic parents, he remained in that faith until 1679 when—during the time of the Popish Plot and following the advice of the divine John Tillotson—he converted to the Church of England...
at Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and...
.
In 1711 Girardeau was seen at the Queen's Theatre as Climene in Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian Baroque composer especially famous for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera. He was the father of two other composers, Domenico Scarlatti and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti.-Life:Scarlatti was born in...
's Pirro e Demetrio, Fronima in Bononcini's Etearco, and Almirena in the momentous premiere of George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
's Rinaldo
Rinaldo (opera)
Rinaldo is an opera by George Frideric Handel composed in 1711. It is the first Italian language opera written specifically for the London stage. The libretto was prepared by Giacomo Rossi from a scenario provided by Aaron Hill. The work was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in London's...
. Rinaldo was Handel's first opera written for the London stage, and it was the first Italian language opera written specifically for the English theatre. A tremendous success with the public, a further 12 performances were immediately scheduled after its premiere; at the end of the run, popular demand was such that two more were added. In 1712 she made her last known stage appearances as Oronte in Francesco Gasparini
Francesco Gasparini
Francesco Gasparini was an Italian Baroque composer and teacher whose works were performed throughout Italy, and also on occasion in Germany and England....
's Antioco and Veremonda in Gasparini's Ambleto. Her whereabouts and activities beyond 1712 are unknown.
Sources
Originally published in 1987- Dean, Winton: "Isabella Girardeau", in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. Stanley Sadie. London, Macmillan Publishers Ltd., 2001.