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In the second half of the 19th century Adelina Patti was the most celebrated soprano in the world.
In the course of her career she earned more than had any singer before her and very possibly more than any since-not excepting even Pavarotti, bearing in mind devaluation and inflation. Her contract stipulated that she be paid $5,000 a performance in gold, no later than twelve hours before curtain time. Such an amount was then mind-boggling and set a record unbroken for three-quarters of a century. She was also a notable actress and achieved her greatest successes in comedy, especially in the roles of Dinorah in Meyerbeer's Dinorah, Zerlina in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville. She was without doubt the supreme exponent of bel canto and coloratura in her day. |