Luigia Polzelli [SEP] voice type
Luigia Polzelli
Luigia Polzelli (also "Polcelli"; c. 1760 – 5 October 1830) was an Italian mezzo-soprano, who sang at the Esterházy court in Hungary during the late 18th century. She was for a number of years the lover of the composer Joseph Haydn.
Early years.
Luigia Polzelli was born Luigia Moreschi in Naples sometime around 1760. She married the violinist Antonio Polzelli some time before 1779. The couple apparently lived in Bologna.
Relationship with Haydn.
Luigia arrived at the Esterházy
Hungary, where Luigia died in poverty in 1830.
Correspondence.
Polzelli is of importance to Haydn's biographers, as a number of Haydn's letters to her are preserved, containing information about the composer. They are written in Italian.
References.
- Botstiber, H. (1932) "Haydn and Luigia Polzelli," "The Musical Quarterly" 18: 208–15. Available on JSTOR.
- Hughes, Rosemary (1970) "Haydn", J. M. Dent.
- Jones, David Wyn