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
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."[4] 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
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
- 1 2 John Denison Champlin, Cyclopedia of music & musicians (New York: Scribner, 1888), vol. 1, p. 217.
- ↑ A Dictionary of Musicians from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time... (London: Sainsbury & Co., 1824), vol. 1 p. 108.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.
- 1 2 3 4 William Bingley, Musical biography 2nd edition (London: Henry Colburn, 1834), vol. 2, p. 310.
- ↑ "Acis and Galatea : the favorite grand ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
- ↑ Bossi, Cesare. "Alonzo the brave and the fair Imogene".
- ↑ "The favourite ballet of L'Amant statue : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
- ↑ "L'amour vangé : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket for Madme. Rose's benefit | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
- ↑ "The pastoral ballet of Apollon berger : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Bacchus & Ariadne : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre, 1797-8 | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Constante et Alcidonis. a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre, Haymarket, 1798 | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Les delassements militaires : the favorite divertisment | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "The deserter : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, 1799 | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "The favorite divertisment Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Flore et Zephire a grand ballet | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Irza : a favorite ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
- ↑ "Les jeux d'Egle : the favorite grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "The judgement of Midas : a new divertisment ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Didelot's much admired Chinese ballet entitled Ken-si and Tao | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Laura et Lenza : a grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Little Peggy's love : the favorite Scotch ballet, performed at the Kings Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "The favorite divertissement of Le marchand de Smyrne | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Pigamlion : a grand ballet, performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ↑ "Telemaque : grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Hay-Market | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
- ↑ "Le Triomphe de Themis, a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, '97-'98 | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org.
- ↑ Variations.
External links