Francesca Vanini-Boschi

Francesca Vanini-Boschi (b Bologna; d Venice, 1744) was an Italian contralto singer of the 18th century. She is best remembered for her association with the composer George Frideric Handel, whom she sung for at both Italy and London, though she also sang in operas by Alessandro Scarlatti and Giovanni Bononcini. She frequently sang alongside her husband, the bass Giuseppe Maria Boschi. Her two Handel roles were those of Otho in "Agrippina" and Goffredo in "Rinaldo"; these roles utilise only a limited range and tessitura. After "Rinaldo" her voice began to decline, but earlier Giuseppe Felice Tosi had praised her for her ability to introduce "Graces without transgressing against Time".

References

Winton Dean: "Vanini [Boschi] , Francesca", "Grove Music Online" ed L. Macy (Accessed 5 December 2006), [http://www.grovemusic.com/ grovemusic.com] , subscription access.