|
Earlier in
her life, dramatic contralto Rosmunda Pisaroni (1793-1892)
had contracted smallpox, and this left her face horribly scarred.
Whenever it was possible, La Pisaroni used to sing her opening aria
wearing a mask or with her back facing the audience before allowing them
to see her face, thus winning them over by her phenomenal singing and not
her looks. She was the most important contralto of the XIX century
and one of the most important exponents of Rossini's operas, creating the
roles of Malcolm in his La donna del Lago and Andromache in Ermione.
She also sang in many Meyerbeer world premieres, such as Romilda in Romilda
e Costanza and Almanzor in Esule di Granata. |
