Anna Maria Strada [SEP] voice type
Anna Maria Strada
Anna Maria Strada (fl. 1719–1741, in Bergamo) was an Italian soprano of the 18th century. She is best remembered for her association with the composer George Frideric Handel, in whose operas Strada sang.
Career.
After an initial career in Italy that included performances at Venice — in Vivaldi's opera La verità in cimento (1720) — Milan, and Livorno, Strada moved to London in 1729 to sing for Handel after the composer engaged her for his operas. She made her début
Handel and commentator on the operatic scene of the time, labelled her "a perfect beauty, quite a Cleopatra". Her physical excellence brought the fruitless attentions of the Prince of Wales in 1733, but her voice did not match her features. Mrs Pendarves thought little of her ability as a singer, and her roles indicate a lack of virtuosity and range. Despite this, no other singer apart from Senesino and Anna Maria Strada performed so often in Handel's operatic works.
References.
Winton Dean: "Bertolli