Agnesi, Louis Ferdinand Leopold

1833-1875

Belgian opera and concert singer, whose real name was Agniez. Agnesi was a famous bass. He was born at Erpent, in the province of Namur, Belgium, studied at the Brussels Conservatory, for a time was choirmaster at the Church of Saint Catherine, and in Brussels conducted several singing societies. He did some work as a composer, but the limited success of his opera, Harold le Normand, influenced him to devote most of his attention to singing, though he has several compositions in addition to the opera, principally songs and motets. He studied under Duprez, and as a member of Merelli's Italian Opera Company made a tour of Germany, Holland and Belgium. He sang for several seasons in Paris and London, in the latter city as oratorio and concert singer, adding greatly to his fame. His success in opera roles was distinguished, and he was justly famed both as actor and musician.