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.

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.

In 1795, he emigrated to London. 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." His association with the theatre lasted from 1795 to 1796 through the 1799–1800 season. Most of his ballets were written between 1796 and 1800. It was said that he composed with "unexampled rapidity", and that his melodies were of high quality.

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

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." He left his widow Del Caro and four children.

List of works

Ballets

Title Date of first performance Choreographer Remarks
Acis and Galatea10 June 1797Charles Didelot
Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene26 March 1801Charles Didelotco-composed with Vincenzo Federici
L’amant statue21 April 1796Giacomo Onorati
L’amour vangé2 June 1796Charles Didelot
Apollon berger27 December 1796Sébastian Gallet
Bacchus and Ariadne28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet
Barader29 May 1800James Harvey D'Egville
La chasse d'amour2 January 1798Sébastian Gallet
Cinderella or The glass slipper1803?
Constante et Alcidonis1798Sébastian Gallet
Les délassements militaires16 January 1797Sébastian Galletco-composed with Joseph Mazzinghi
The deserter12 February 1799Sébastian Galletbased on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteur
Les deux jumelles1799James Harvey D'Egville
Flore et Zephire7 July 1796Charles Didelot
Heliska ou La fille soldat16 June 1801Charles Didelot
L’heureux retour28 March 1797Sébastian Gallet
Hylas et Témire1799James Harvey D'Egville
Irza2 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville
Les jeux d’Eglé11 January 1800James Harvey D'Egville
Jugement de Midas20 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville
Ken-Si and Tao14 May 1801Charles Didelot
Laura et Lenza8 May 1800Charles Didelot
Little Peggy's love21 April 1796Charles Didelot
Le marchand de Smyrne1799?Monsieur Barré
L’offrande a Terpsichore28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet
Pigmalion3 January 1801James Harvey D'Egville
Télémaque26 March 1799James Harvey D'Egvilleco-composed with James Harvey D'Egville
Le triomphe de Thémis1798Sébastian Gallet

Other works

References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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. 1 2 3 William Bingley, Musical biography 2nd edition (London: Henry Colburn, 1834), vol. 2, p. 310.
  5. ↑ Acis and Galatea : the favorite grand ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 612477338.
  6. ↑ RISM 991014583 Alonzo the brave and the fair Imogene
  7. ↑ The favourite ballet of L'Amant statue : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org. OCLC 932552321.
  8. ↑ L'amour vangé : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket for Madme. Rose's benefit | WorldCat.org. OCLC 181914930.
  9. ↑ The pastoral ballet of Apollon berger : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org. OCLC 231716901.
  10. ↑ Bacchus & Ariadne : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre, 1797-8 | WorldCat.org. OCLC 63597569.
  11. ↑ The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 612477293.
  12. ↑ The celebrated La chasse in the divertisment ballet of La chasse d'amour : being the overture to Le jeune Henri | WorldCat.org. OCLC 612688666.
  13. ↑ Cinderella's minuet : as danced by Miss De Camp & Mr. Byrne, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in the grand spectacle of Cinderella | WorldCat.org. OCLC 893146190.
  14. ↑ Constante et Alcidonis. a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre, Haymarket, 1798 | WorldCat.org. OCLC 181917243.
  15. ↑ Les delassements militaires : the favorite divertisment | WorldCat.org. OCLC 181940164.
  16. ↑ The deserter : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, 1799 | WorldCat.org. OCLC 612688772.
  17. ↑ The favorite divertisment Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 81703046.
  18. ↑ Flore et Zephire a grand ballet | WorldCat.org. OCLC 30126134.
  19. ↑ Six opera divertimentos from Heliska, ou La fille soldat : a favorite dance as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org. OCLC 82445316.
  20. ↑ The favorite divertissement ballet called L'heureux retour, ou Le vainqueur genereux : as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org. OCLC 63597572.
  21. ↑ The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 181914933.
  22. ↑ Irza : a favorite ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org. OCLC 144658211.
  23. ↑ Les jeux d'Egle : the favorite grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 612689431.
  24. ↑ The judgement of Midas : a new divertisment ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 612686962.
  25. ↑ Didelot's much admired Chinese ballet entitled Ken-si and Tao | WorldCat.org. OCLC 63597571.
  26. ↑ Laura et Lenza : a grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 932552332.
  27. ↑ Little Peggy's love : the favorite Scotch ballet, performed at the Kings Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 612688287.
  28. ↑ The favorite divertissement of Le marchand de Smyrne | WorldCat.org. OCLC 24657555.
  29. ↑ The favorite air danced by Mr. & Mrs. Laborie in the ballet of L'offrande à Therpsicore : arranged as a rondo for the piano forte | WorldCat.org. OCLC 1051566714.
  30. ↑ Pigamlion : a grand ballet, performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. OCLC 83224594.
  31. ↑ Telemaque : grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Hay-Market | WorldCat.org. OCLC 863462108.
  32. ↑ Le Triomphe de Themis, a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, '97-'98 | WorldCat.org. OCLC 24949957.
  33. ↑ RISM 454016874 Variations