Bertinotti, Teresa

1776-1854

A very successful Italian soprano. She was born at Savigliano in northern Italy and died at Bologna. Her parents moved to Naples when Teresa was two years old and in this city at the age of four she began receiving instruction in music. She was gifted with remarkable beauty as well as musical talent, and haying had the benefit of excellent training, her appearance in various Italian cities, Florence, Milan, Venice and Turin, was attended with the greatest success. In Venice she married Felice Radicati, a violinist and composer, but on the stage retained the name of Bertinotti. She was immensely popular in Vienna, sang before the court at Munich and was invited by the King of Holland to visit The Hague. In London she was very well liked in Mozart's opera Cosi fan tutte and the Flauto Magico, and through Madame Bertinotti's influence various Mozart operas were produced in London at this time, about 1810 to 1812. Following her visit to England she returned to Italy. In 1823 her husband, who was settled at Bologna, met with an accident that resulted in his death, at which time she retired from the stage. After her retirement, Madame Bertinotti became esteemed as a teacher of singing.