Cesare Bossi

Cesare Bossi (1773—September 1802) was an Italian-born composer. He is most known as a composer of ballets which he wrote for the King's Theatre in Haymarket in London.

Career

Bossi was born in Ferrara in 1773.[1]

None of the sources provide information about his training or early career. One source states that while in Italy he wrote operas as well as piano music including sonatas.[1]

In 1795 he emigrated to London.[2][3] There he became associated with the King's Theatre in Haymarket where he was a composer of ballets, a conductor, and responsible for the musical preparation of operas. "In this task there have been few who could excel him."[4][3] His association with the theatre lasted from 1795-96 through the 1799-1800 season. Most of his ballets were written between 1796 and 1800.[3] It was said that he composed with "unexampled rapidity."[4] and that his melodies were of high quality.[4]

He married a Mademoise del Caro, a dancer in the company. She began to be billed as "Madame Bossi" as of 6 February 1796.[3] By 2 June 1800 the couple were living at No. 1 Great Suffolk Street.[3]

In September 1802, the Monthly Mirror reported that Bossi had died in the King's Bench Prison "of a deep decline." The paper called him "A musical professor of eminent talents."[3] He left his widow Del Caro and four children.[4]

List of works

Ballets[3]

Title Date of first performance Choreographer Remarks
Acis and Galatea10 June 1797Charles Didelot[5]
Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene26 March 1801Charles Didelot[6]co-composed with Vincenzo Federici
L’amant statue21 April 1796Giacomo Onorati[7]
L’amour vangé2 June 1796Charles Didelot[8]
Apollon berger27 December 1796Sébastian Gallet[9]
Bacchus and Ariadne28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet[10]
Barader29 May 1800James Harvey D'Egville[11]
La chasse d'amour2 January 1798Sébastian Gallet[12]
Cinderella or The glass slipper1803?[13]
Constante et Alcidonis1798Sébastian Gallet[14]
Les délassements militaires16 January 1797Sébastian Gallet[15]co-composed with Joseph Mazzinghi
The deserter12 February 1799Sébastian Gallet[16]based on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteur
Les deux jumelles1799James Harvey D'Egville[17]
Flore et Zephire7 July 1796Charles Didelot[18]
Heliska ou La fille soldat16 June 1801Charles Didelot[19]
L’heureux retour28 March 1797Sébastian Gallet[20]
Hylas et Témire1799James Harvey D'Egville[21]
Irza2 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville[22]
Les jeux d’Eglé11 January 1800James Harvey D'Egville[23]
Jugement de Midas20 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville[24]
Ken-Si and Tao14 May 1801Charles Didelot[25]
Laura et Lenza8 May 1800Charles Didelot[26]
Little Peggy's love21 April 1796Charles Didelot[27]
Le marchand de Smyrne1799?Monsieur Barré[28]
L’offrande a Terpsichore28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet[29]
Pigmalion3 January 1801James Harvey D'Egville[30]
Télémaque26 March 1799James Harvey D'Egville[31]co-composed with James Harvey D'Egville
Le triomphe de Thémis1798Sébastian Gallet[32]

Other works

  • Overture to Blue Beard (opera by Michael Kelly) (most vocal scores of the opera have Kelly's own overture)
  • Pas de trois from La fille mal gardée (bulk of ballet composed by unidentified composer, 18 April 1799)
  • Hornpipe from Barbara and Allen (ballet by James Harvey D'Egville)
  • Variations, D minor, piano[33]

References
  1. John Denison Champlin, Cyclopedia of music & musicians (New York: Scribner, 1888), vol. 1, p. 217.
  2. A Dictionary of Musicians from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time... (London: Sainsbury & Co., 1824), vol. 1 p. 108.
  3. Philip H. Highfill, et. al., A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London, 1660-1800 (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1973), vol. 2, page 240-241.
  4. William Bingley, Musical biography 2nd edition (London: Henry Colburn, 1834), vol. 2, p. 310.
  5. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/612477338
  6. https://opac.rism.info/search?id=00000991014583&View=rism
  7. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/932552321
  8. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/181914930
  9. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/231716901
  10. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/63597569
  11. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/612477293
  12. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/612688666
  13. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/893146190
  14. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/181917243
  15. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/181940164
  16. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/612688772
  17. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/81703046
  18. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/30126134
  19. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/82445316
  20. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/63597572
  21. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/181914933
  22. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/144658211
  23. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/612689431
  24. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/612686962
  25. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/63597571
  26. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/932552332
  27. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/612688287
  28. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24657555
  29. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1051566714
  30. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/83224594
  31. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/863462108
  32. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24949957
  33. https://opac.rism.info/search?id=454016874&View=rism


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