Giulia Frasi

There is very little biographical information about Giulia Frasi. She was born in or around Milan before 1730. She had a younger brother named Giovanni who, like her, settled in England and died there in 1795 at 65, after having worked extensively as a tailor-embroiderer for the Prince of Wales.[3]

In her native Italy Frasi studied singing with Milanese composer Giuseppe Ferdinando Brivio. She also performed there for a few years during the early 1740s[3] making her operatic debut at Lodi (1740) and then singing in Alessandria (1740), Bergamo (1741), and Modena (1742).[2][4]

The King's Theatre in Haymarket, in the 18th-century; watercolour by William Capon (V&A)

She moved to London in autumn 1742 – perhaps following Giuseppe Ferdinando Brivio – with her friend and fellow singer the contralto Caterina Galli.[3] In England she joined Lord Middlesex's Italian opera company.[4] Lord Middlesex was director of Italian opera at the Haymarket Theatre whose purpose was to challenge Handel's solid hold on London opera goers. She studied under the English educator, musician and historian Charles Burney.[3]

Her English career began shortly after her arrival, first performing in comprimario roles at the King's Theatre. Her profile rising gradually within the company, she soon appears in secondary roles, including breeches roles (for example: Taxiles (1743) and Cleon (1747–8), both in Rossane, and the giant Briareus in the première of Gluck's La caduta de' giganti in 1746).[5][3]

Her actual London début took place on 2 November 1742 at the King's Theatre as Mahobeth in the pasticcio Gianguir with music by Giovanni Battista Lampugnani, Johann Adolph Hasse and Giuseppe Ferdinando Brivio. The latter's music will also be used in two other pasticcios produced at the King's Theatre during the 1740s: Mandane, premièred on 12 December 1742 (and later, L'incostanza delusa, premièred on 9 February 1745).

Aria sung by Frasi in Gluck's Artamene, published in The favourite songs in the opera call'd Artemene by Sigr. Gluck in 1746.[6]

London's Foundling Hospital

This was followed straight away by a period of intense artistic activity on the London stage, still at the King's Theater, singing works by Giovanni Battista Lampugnani, Johann Adolph Hasse, Nicola Porpora, Baldassare Galuppi.[3][2]

However, just a couple of years after her arrival in the British capital, shortly after the première of the pasticcio L'incostanza delusa, all theatres in London were closed because of the political turmoil caused by the Stuart rising. When the political situation improved theatrical activities recommenced with a première of Christoph Willibald Gluck's opera La caduta de' giganti (The Fall of the Giants) on 17 January 1746. La caduta de' giganti, a command from Lord Middlesex, with a libretto by Vanneschi, glorified the hero of the battle of Culloden, the Duke of Cumberland.[7] Frasi, who had created the role of the giant Briareo for Gluck, was back on stage and continued her intense musical activity: first with a role in Gluck's second London opera (Artamene)[6] and then with works by Matteo Capranica, Antonio Caldara, Francesco Maria Veracini, Domènec Terradellas, Pietro Domenico Paradisi and others.[3][2]

In addition, her association with the annual charity concerts in aid of the Fund for Decay'd - known today as the Royal Society of Musicians - started as early as 1743. The earliest documented occasion (a fundraiser event) on which she performed English-language airs, including some by Handel, in public was as early as March 1746.[4] Her charity fundraising also included benefactors such as the Foundling Hospital, where Handel held regular benefit concerts and annual performances of Messiah[8] that continued until Handel's death and beyond,[9] the Jermyn Lying-in Hospital, in aid of which she sang in a performance of Arne's revised version of Alfred organised at the King's Theatre on 12 May 1753,[4] and many others.

First part of the emotional Act II, Scene 2 from Theodora, written by Handel for Giulia Frasi

A few years after her London début she is noticed by Handel, who, appreciating her singing,[3] her determination to sing articulately in English and, above all, her musical expressiveness,[4] hires her for his 1749 season.[3]

That same year she becomes his principal soprano and sings the title role in Susanna (her first Handel oratorio).[2] Handel takes her under his wing and she quickly becomes one of his favourites. "The subtle artistry and emotional depth of Handel's [powerful] writing for Frasi"[4] is a testament to how expressive her singing must have been and to how much Handel must have estimated this particular talent of hers.

For example, in Theodora (premièred in 1750 with Frasi being once again the principal soprano in a title role written specifically for her by Handel), Act II, Scene 2 opens with "a plaintive symphony for flutes and strings establish[ing] the lonely despair of the character, and [then] her dread for the violation of her chastity is sublimely expressed in 'With Darkness deep as is my Woe' – in the extraordinary key of F sharp minor; [...with] pathos-generating rolling strings and almost unbearable uses of silence between phrases. After an interlude of 'soft Musick' the desperate woman prays effusively for divine deliverance in 'O that I on Wings cou'd rise'."[4]

Some of Giulia Frasi's engagements during the year 1749:

• Twice weekly: noon concerts at Ranelagh with the tenor John Beard.
• revival of Handel's Messiah.
• revival of Handel's Hercules.
• 10 February: production of Handel's Susanna (including première and creation of the role of Susanna).
• 17 March: production of Handel's Solomon (including première and creation of the principal soprano roles).
• 6 April: puts on her own benefit concert at the New Theatre.
• 10 April: concert for the benefit of the five-year-old singer Cassandra Frederick, with whom Frasi may later have starred in the première of Handel's The Triumph of Time and Truth (1757) and the revivals of Handel's oratorios Belshazzar (1758), Jephtha (1758), Messiah (1758), Judas Maccabaeus (1759), and Thomas Arne's The Masque of Alfred (1759).[10]
• 13 April: benefit concert for her friend and colleague Caterina Galli.
• 24 April: Mr Tozzi's concert at Hickford's Room.

Georgian houses in Great Pulteney St. in today's London

The former Westminster Penny Post offices at 39 Gerrard St.

From 1745 to 1752 Giulia lived in Great Pulteney street, not far from Golden Square.[3] Great Pulteney Street had just been laid out during the area's redevelopment in the early eighteenth century (Many of the houses built at this time still survive today). The street was never fashionable though, nor was it identified with any trade or craft. Yet there was a large brewery and there were famous musical instrument makers as well: notably Kirkman's, which had been established there in 1739 and remained until 1750, and, from 1742 to 1774, the harpsichord-maker Burkat Shudi, founder of the firm now known as Broadwood & Sons. Composer Michael Festing also lived there between 1747 and 1752.[11]

Then she moved to Gerrard street,[3] which is now part of London's Chinatown. She lived there at Charles Churchill's (Horace Walpole's future brother-in-law) for many years with her daughter (born in 1743).[3] At the time, the City of Westminster had its Penny Post offices at number 39. In 1740, No. 44 had become an apothecary's shop and was occupied until 1765 by the apothecary to George III's household. Many artists lived in Gerrard Street, for instance: the painter Chevalier Andrea Casali, or the architect John Crunden. The tavern at number 9 was the first home of The Club, founded in 1764 by Joshua Reynolds and Dr. Samuel Johnson.[12]

Two guinea

She was paid 6 guineas, very high wages at the time, for the charity revivals of Handel's Solomon at the Foundling Hospital in 1754, 1758 and 1759. She was the highest paid singer at Handel's Foundling Hospital performances of Messiah.[3][2]

"At the [Foundling] Hospital. For the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted children in Lambs Conduit Fields, on [x] day of [x] 17 [xx] at [x] o'clock there will be, performed in the chapel of the said hospital, a sacred oratorio called [x] composed by George Frederick Handel, Esq. The gentlemen are desired to come without swords and the ladies without hoops. NB; there will be no collection. Tickets may be had of the steward at the Hospital, at Arthur's Chocolate House in St. James's Street, at Batson's Coffee House in Cornhill & at Tom's Coffee House in Devereux Court at half a Giunea each."

As of 1749 Giulia sings in all of the Covent Garden concerts that Handel gave for the rest of his life[4] and she remained Handel's Prima Donna in all his later seasons, creating and interpreting parts he often wrote specifically for her. Her greatest successes were Handel's oratorios.[3]

From 1750 Messiah had annual performances at the Foundling Hospital until Handel's death and beyond.[9] Based on Frasi's professional relationship with Handel and her involvement in charity, she is likely to have taken part in most of them. Indeed, David Vickers states that "Frasi participated in all of Handel's annual performances of Messiah, in the chapel of the Foundling Hospital (from 1750)."[4]

Many of Handel's oratorios had numerous revivals with her, including in provencial cities: Oxford in 1754, 1756, 1759, Salisbury in 1758, 1761, 1765, Ranelagh in 1751, 1752, and for nine consecutive years at the Three Choir festival (1756- 64).[3][2]

For instance:

On Saturday 22 June 1754 the Oxford Journal published the following advertising:[22]

On Wednesday the 3rd, Thursday the 4th and Friday the 5th of July, being the three Days following the Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors to the University, L'Allegro, il Penseroso, &c. Judas Macchabæus, and Messiah will be performed in the Theatre. The principal Vocal Parts by SIGNORA FRASI, Mr. BEARD, Mr. WASS, and others; and the Instrumental Parts by many of the most excellent Performers of every Kind from LONDON. Further particulars will be specified in the Bills of each Days Performance.

On Saturday 30 June 1759 the Oxford Journal published the following advertising:[23]

On Tuesday the 3rd of July (the Day of the Installation) will be performed, in the Theatre, the Oratorio of SAMSON; on Wednesday the 4th (the Day appointed for commemorating our Founders and  Benefactors), the Oratorio of ESTHER; and on the 5th MESSIAH, or the SACRED ORATORIO; together with select pieces between the Acts (as will be specified in the Bill of each Days Performance) by a numerous and excellent Band  from London, Bath and other Places. The principal Vocal Parts by Signora Frasi, Miss Brent, Mess. BEARD, CHAMPNES, WASS and HUDSON from London and Master NORRIS from Salisbury. TICKETS are to be had at Mr. Cross's Music Shop and at the Coffee Houses; Price FIVE SHILLINGS.

Throughout the 1750s, "Frasi's concert repertoire stretched from Purcell to Terradellas."[4] She was considered a paramount principal soprano in English oratorios or other works of the sort by Handel and by other composers. Frasi was at nine consecutive meetings of the Three Choirs Festival: she sang for William Boyce at Hereford in 1756, then she performed for Arne, and so on. She gave regular concerts in Oxford too. She also continued to be part of the Covent Garden oratorio concerts given by Handel and, later, by John Christopher Smith and John Stanley. (The latter two would produce their own oratorios (or other works suitable for the occasion) whilst also putting together revivals of Handel's.[4]) In fact, after Handel's death in 1759, Frasi continued as Prima Donna under his successors until about 1768.[3][2]

Regina Mingotti, 1745

In total Frasi also participated in at least fourteen opera seasons at the King's Theatre between 1742 and 1761.[4] In addition to which, during the 1754-1756 seasons, Giulia regularly covered for Regina Mingotti. (Mingotti's fits of temper, antagonisms with the director of the opera company of the King's Theatre and ailings often made her "indisposed". Frasi covered for her many a time, more often than not ending up taking over Mingotti's role for the rest of the performances as Regina Mingotti "[would] not yet [have] recovered of her indisposition".[16] Michael Burden quotes the following newspaper clip:[16]

Signora Mingotti having acquainted Sig Vanneschi Yesterday Afternoon that she continues very much indisposed, and is not able to sing To morrow night, by which Reason the Opera called Ezio cannot be performed; instead thereof Sig. Vanneschi begs Leave to perform the Opera of Andromaca, in which Signora Frasi will do the part of Signora Mingotti; and Signora Peralta is to do the part of Signora Frasi.

During the 1760s, Frasi continued to play a prominent part in the musical life of London. She seems to have transitioned smoothly to the new music style of the generation of composers younger than her; composers like Philip Hayes, who announce the advent of the Classical Era.

She was part of the London Stage for about 31 years in total.[3] Aside from interpreting Handel's and other composers' music on stage, Giulia also continued to sing regularly in charity concerts; she also took part regularly in the annual Musicians Fund (and other) benefits, and sang at the Castle and Swan concerts, at Ranelagh and elsewhere.[2]

From 1764 onwards her public appearances became less frequent. In 1767 she appeared at London's Covent Garden in Esther and at Haberdashers' Hall in Messiah.[3]

She made her last appearances in 1769 in Handel's Judas Maccabaeus at the King's Theatre, and as Arbaces in Artaxerxes by Thomas Arne. The latter is her last known appearance on the stage in an opera.[3][4]

Finally, in 1770 - after having been "confined for some Time by a bad State of Health" - she appeared again at the Little Theatre for a charity concert to her own benefit singing Judas Maccabaeus.[3][4] But the organisation of the concert was plagued with difficulties which eventually lead her to give a "full-scale oratorio [...] at the unsociable hour of noon."[4] Three years later she appeared in a few concerts, making a new "come-back" about which The Morning Post and Daily Advertiser wrote sarcastically: "Signora Frazi, who may be said, with respect to the musical world, to have been long since dead and buried, is expected to rise again in Lent[.]" Vickers adds that "the soprano's comeback comprised a few scattered concerts at inauspicious venues".[4]

Giulia Frasi was not only able to quickly win over the London Opera Stage, but she had Handel's assent as well. She also gained the affection and became a favourite of the English public.

The thirty-one-year career that Frasi enjoyed in London was much broader and varied than being Handel's last prima donna. She also sang composers as varied as Gluck, the Venetian heritage style of Galuppi, the Neapolitans like Porpora, Pergolesi, Lampugnani, Hasse, Cocchi, and English composers, among which Boyce, Smith, Hayes and Arne.[1] Operas and oratorios on the London stage were a rather important part of her career but so was her music making in other occasions. She did have a non-negligeable place in London's community of musicians and participated in the cultural richness and musical diversity of London and Britain during the mid-Georgian Era.[4]

Ruby Hughes says of the roles written by Handel for Giulia Frasi that they "seem to engender a depth of female characterisation which may well have subverted the norm at a time". She adds that "Encountering Frasi through the music that was written for her, and contemplating her career as a musician, has been a tremendous source of inspiration" [...and that she is] "struck by the significance of [Frasi's] considerable achievements."[14]

Undoubtedly, Giulia Frasi was one of the significant musical figures of London from the 1740s to the 1760s.[1]