Sophia Dussek
Encyclopedia
Sophia Giustina Dussek née Corri, later Moralt (b. Edinburgh
, 1 May 1775; d. London
, ca. 1831) was a Scottish
singer, pianist
, harpist, and composer
of Italian
descent. She studied voice with her father, composer, music publisher, and impresario Domenico Corri
. Her uncle was composer Natale Corri and her cousin was soprano Fanny Corri-Paltoni
. She was well-known as a soprano and composer of songs.
In 1792, Dussek married the composer Jan Ladislav Dussek
. Following Jan's death in 1812, Sophia married the violist
John Alvis Moralt. The couple lived in Paddington
, where she founded a music school. There have been numerous misattributions of her work, either from ignorance, or refusal to reject received wisdom. The opus 2 sonatas, however, were published in at least 3 editions in the 1790s by the Corri-Dussek company in London as by Madame Dussek, and there is no reason to doubt that the 6 sonatas of opus 2, including the famous C minor sonata published and misattributed by Schott as by JL, are anything but the work of Sophia. Paris editions of opus 2 published by Pleyell only bear the name Dussek, leading Zabaleta to his misattribution, but nobody actually claimed opus 2 as the work of JL rather than Sophia before the mid 20thC.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, 1 May 1775; d. 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...
, ca. 1831) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
singer, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, harpist, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
descent. She studied voice with her father, composer, music publisher, and impresario Domenico Corri
Domenico Corri
Domenico Corri was an Italian composer, impressario, music publisher, and voice teacher.Corri was born in Italy and studied voice with Nicola Porpora in Naples. In 1781 he moved to Scotland with his family to become an opera conductor. He became an important singing master in Edinburgh...
. Her uncle was composer Natale Corri and her cousin was soprano Fanny Corri-Paltoni
Fanny Corri-Paltoni
Fanny Corri-Paltoni was a celebrated English operatic soprano active in Europe between 1818 and 1835. It was said that she possessed a voice of remarkable beauty and that she had a fine singing technique. She particularly excelled in the operas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioachino...
. She was well-known as a soprano and composer of songs.
In 1792, Dussek married the composer Jan Ladislav Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek was a Czech composer and pianist. He was an important representative of Czech music abroad in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century...
. Following Jan's death in 1812, Sophia married the violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
John Alvis Moralt. The couple lived in Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
, where she founded a music school. There have been numerous misattributions of her work, either from ignorance, or refusal to reject received wisdom. The opus 2 sonatas, however, were published in at least 3 editions in the 1790s by the Corri-Dussek company in London as by Madame Dussek, and there is no reason to doubt that the 6 sonatas of opus 2, including the famous C minor sonata published and misattributed by Schott as by JL, are anything but the work of Sophia. Paris editions of opus 2 published by Pleyell only bear the name Dussek, leading Zabaleta to his misattribution, but nobody actually claimed opus 2 as the work of JL rather than Sophia before the mid 20thC.
Recordings
- Floraleda SacchiFloraleda SacchiFloraleda Sacchi is an Italian harpist, composer and musicologist born in Como.-Biography:She studied music in Italy, United States and Canada, with Lisetta Rossi, Alice Giles, Judy Loman, Alice Chalifoux....
, Sophia Corri Dussek: Works for solo Harp (Tactus, 2009. Cat. No. 772801)