Vittoria Archilei

Vittoria Archilei (La Romanina) ("fl." 1582 – 1620) was an Italian singer, dancer, and lutenist. She was the wife of Antonio Archilei, a composer and lutenist. They married in 1582. She was in the service of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, along with Emilio de' Cavalieri, who was her mentor. In 1588 she went with her husband and Cavalieri to the Medici court in Florence, where she became "one of the most famous singers of her time" (Grove). She is recorded as singing at many court entertainments and weddings up until 1620, and was in the service of the Medici her whole career. Many composers wrote for her, including Sebastian Raval and Luca Marenzio, as well as, of course, her husband and Cavalieri.

Giulio Caccini and Jacopo Peri claimed that she had sung their music, in order to help their claims to supremacy in composition, as well as to being the best writers in the "seconda prattica" style. Sigismondo d'India also wrote of her skill in singing. She apparently sang in the new style, including many ornaments and "passaggi". She sang with Francesca Caccini and Settimia Caccini in an imitation of the "concerto delle donne" in Florence for a period.

References

H. Wiley Hitchcock, Tim Carter. "Vittoria Archilei", "Grove Music Online", ed. L. Macy (accessed May 20 2006), [http://www.grovemusic.com/ grovemusic.com] (subscription access).

Persondata
NAME=Vittoria Archilei
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Vittoria Concarini, La Romanina
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Italian Baroque singer
DATE OF BIRTH= before 1582
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH= after 1620
PLACE OF DEATH=