Giulia Frasi (also Frassi[1][2]) was born c. 1730 and died in 1772[3] or after May 1774.[4] She was an Italian soprano who was primarily active in London. She sang in every one of Handel's English oratorios (with the exception of Semele), including various world premières for which the composer wrote roles specifically for her.[2][5]
There is very little biographical information about Giulia Frasi. She was born in or around Milan before 1730. She had a younger brother named Giovanni who, like her, settled in England and died there in 1795 at 65, after having worked extensively as a tailor-embroiderer for the then Prince of Wales, George IV.[3]
In her native Italy Frasi studied singing with Milanese composer Brivio. She also performed there for a few years during the early 1740s[3] making her operatic debut at Lodi (1740) and then singing in Alessandria (1740), Bergamo (1741), and Modena (1742).[2][4]
She moved to London in autumn 1742 – perhaps following Giuseppe Ferdinando Brivio – with her friend and fellow singer the contralto Caterina Galli.[3] In England she joined Lord Middlesex's Italian opera company.[4] Lord Middlesex was director of Italian opera at the Haymarket Theatre whose purpose was to challenge Handel's solid hold on London opera goers. She studied under the English educator, musician and historian Charles Burney.[3]
Her English career began shortly after her arrival, first performing in comprimario roles at the King's Theatre. Her profile rising gradually within the company, she soon appears in secondary roles, including breeches roles (for example: Taxiles (1743) and Cleon (1747–8), both in Rossane, and the giant Briareus in the première of Gluck's La caduta de' giganti in 1746).[5][3]
Her actual London début took place on 2 November 1742 at the King's Theatre as Mahobeth in the pasticcio Gianguir with music by Lampugnani, Hasse and Brivio. The latter's music will also be used in two other pasticcios produced at the King's Theatre during the 1740s: Mandane, premièred on 12 December 1742 (and later, L'incostanza delusa, premièred on 9 February 1745).
This was followed straight away by a period of intense artistic activity on the London stage, still at the King's Theater, singing works by Lampugnani, Hasse, Porpora, Galuppi.[3][2]
However, just a couple of years after her arrival in the British capital, shortly after the première of the pasticcio L'incostanza delusa, all theatres in London were closed because of the political turmoil caused by the Stuart rising. Charles Burney thus recalls the events:
The great Opera-house being shut up this year [1745] on account of the rebellion, and popular prejudice against the performers, who being foreigners, were chiefly Roman Catholics; an opera was attempted April 7th, at the little theatre in the Hay-market, under the direction of Geminiani. ... The opera was a pasticcio, and called L'incostanza delusa. But Count St. Germain composed several new songs, particularly "Per pietà bell'idol mio", which was sung by Frasi, first woman, and encored every night. The rest of his airs, and two by Brivio, Frasi's master ..., were only remarkable for their insipidity. ... The success of this enterprize was inconsiderable, and the performances did not continue more than nine or ten nights.[7]
When the political situation improved fully-fledged theatrical activities recommenced with a première of Gluck's opera La caduta de' giganti (The Fall of the Giants) on 17 January 1746. La caduta de' giganti, a command from Lord Middlesex, with a libretto by Vanneschi, glorified the hero of the battle of Culloden, the Duke of Cumberland.[8] Frasi, who had created the role of the giant Briareo for Gluck, was back on stage and continued her intense musical activity: first with a role in Gluck's second London opera (Artamene)[6] and then with works by Capranica, Caldara, Veracini, Terradellas, Paradisi and others.[3][2]
In addition, her association with the annual charity concerts in aid of the Fund for Decay'd – known today as the Royal Society of Musicians – started as early as 1743. The earliest documented occasion (a fundraiser event) on which she performed English-language airs, including some by Handel, in public was as early as March 1746.[4] Her charity fundraising also included benefactors such as the Foundling Hospital, where Handel held regular benefit concerts and annual performances of Messiah[9] that continued until Handel's death and beyond,[10] the Jermyn Lying-in Hospital, in aid of which she sang in a performance of Arne's revised version of Alfred organised at the King's Theatre on 12 May 1753,[4] and many others.
A few years after her London début she is noticed by Handel, who, appreciating her singing,[3] her determination to sing articulately in English and, above all, her musical expressiveness,[4] hires her for his 1749 season.[3]That same year she becomes his principal soprano and sings the title role in Susanna (her first Handel oratorio).[2] Handel takes her under his wing and she quickly becomes one of his favourites. "The subtle artistry and emotional depth of Handel's [powerful] writing for Frasi"[4] is a testament to how expressive her singing must have been and to how much Handel must have estimated this particular talent of hers.
For example, in Theodora (premièred in 1750 with Frasi being once again the principal soprano in a title role written specifically for her by Handel), act 2, scene 2 opens with "a plaintive symphony for flutes and strings establish[ing] the lonely despair of the character, and [then] her dread for the violation of her chastity is sublimely expressed in 'With Darkness deep as is my Woe' – in the extraordinary key of F-sharp minor; [...with] pathos-generating rolling strings and almost unbearable uses of silence between phrases. After an interlude of 'soft Musick' the desperate woman prays effusively for divine deliverance in 'O that I on Wings cou'd rise'."[4]
Some of Frasi's engagements during the year 1749:[4][3]
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From 1745 to 1752 Frasi lived in Great Pulteney street, not far from Golden Square.[3] Great Pulteney Street had just been laid out during the area's redevelopment in the early eighteenth century (Many of the houses built at this time still survive today). The street was never fashionable though, nor was it identified with any trade or craft. Yet there was a large brewery and there were famous musical instrument makers as well: notably Kirkman's, which had been established there in 1739 and remained until 1750, and, from 1742 to 1774, the harpsichord-maker Burkat Shudi, founder of the firm now known as Broadwood & Sons. Composer Michael Festing also lived there between 1747 and 1752.[13]
Then she moved to Gerrard Street,[3] which is now part of London's Chinatown. She lived there at Charles Churchill's (Horace Walpole's future brother-in-law) for many years with her daughter (born in 1743).[3] At the time, the City of Westminster had its Penny Post offices at number 39. In 1740, No. 44 had become an apothecary's shop and was occupied until 1765 by the apothecary to George III's household. Many artists lived in Gerrard Street, for instance: the painter Chevalier Andrea Casali, or the architect John Crunden. The tavern at number 9 was the first home of The Club, founded in 1764 by Joshua Reynolds and Dr. Samuel Johnson.[14]
She was paid 6 guineas, very high wages at the time, for the charity revivals of Handel's Solomon at the Foundling Hospital in 1754, 1758 and 1759. She was the highest paid singer at Handel's Foundling Hospital performances of Messiah.[3][2]
Frasi was endowed with a beautiful and robust soprano voice whose expressive qualities were greatly valued by Handel, much more than her technical ones. Indeed, allegedly, Frasi had a very limited interest in studying and practicing;[3] Burney tells us an anecdote showing the composer's sarcasm about Frasi's motivation regarding training: "When Frasi told him, that she should study hard; and was going to learn Thorough-Base, in order to accompany herself: Handel, who well knew how little this pleasing singer was addicted to application and diligence, says, 'Oh – vaat may we not expect!' "[4] Nonetheless she did study under Handel[3][7][2] – along with Caterina Galli – and benefited greatly from his tuition.[2]
In his General History of Music (1789), Charles Burney remembers her at the beginning of her career as "[being...] young, and interesting in person, with a sweet and clear voice, and a smooth and chaste style of singing, which, though, cold and unimpassioned, pleased natural ears, and escaped the censure of critics."[3][4] At the time the roles she sang were often of cold and unimpassioned characters, Burney, however, does not clarify "whether her 'cold' singing emerged from dramatic concerns, or whether her casting reflected the perception of her performance style"[15]
She had excellent reviews, especially in Salisbury, and was highly appreciated by the British public,[5][2] whose preference yet was the nightingale singing of castrati rather than a voice whose abilities had nothing exceptional however delicate it was.[1][2]Although she did reprise some castrati roles in revivals (for example in Artaxerxes) and that arias written specifically for her do occasionally include fiery – if short – coloraturas. "Gracious Heav'n, O hear me!" composed by Arne for Frasi and added to The Masque of Alfred is a "lively da capo aria di bravura."[4] "Là per l'ombrosa sponda!", found in Vincenzo Ciampi's Trionfo di Camilla is another example of virtuoso aria written for Frasi. Both arias are strongly influenced by the Neapolitan school, whose composers Frasi had sung earlier in her career. Burney also recorded that the 1742 London pasticcio, entitled Meraspe o L’Olimpiade, based on Pergolesi’s L'Olimpiade, was so successful that its virtuoso aria "Tremende oscuri atroci", was sung at concerts by Frasi for ten years, at least, after the run of the opera was over.[4][7][16] This aria, written for the castrato Angelo Monticelli, is "ferociously difficult ... with virtuosic text-painting in the vocal line, rapid passagework and repeated notes that would have required honed technique and a soprano of light agility".[15]
However, inspired by her rare and particular talent in musical expressiveness, Handel composed for her music of overwhelming sensitivity and beauty.[1] "Time and time again [you] feel [yourself] drawn to the empathetic temperament and lyrical ease of the vocal writing, embodied in the music Handel wrote for her."[17] Her roles contain vivid scenes of emotional and spiritual drama; they depict suffering and distress along with courage, dignity, and selflessness,[4] a whole palette of subtle and complex human emotions. The wonderful series of oratorio parts Handel composed for her, including the two Queens in Solomon, the title roles in Susanna and Theodora, and Iphis in Jephtha, are an indication of his regard for her expressive powers, though they are not technically arduous; their extreme compass is B3 to A5.[2]
Following in Handel's steps, Smith's Paradise Lost required Frasi to express innocence, culpability, pious sorrow and penitence when Eve faces the consequences of her new and inevitable mortality.[4] The aria "It comes" is a showcase of Smith's and Frasi's abilities in conveying such emotions. Rebecca is another example of Smith showcasing Frasi's talent at expressing human feelings in music.
On a different note, Burney highlights that "having come to this country at an early period of her life, she pronounced our language in singing in a more articulate and intelligible manner than the natives".[3][4]
Note that the table below is not exhaustive. Note also that the works/events listed in bold are documented; the ones not in bold are plausible suppositions.[3][1]
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As of 1749 Frasi sings in all of the Covent Garden concerts that Handel gave for the rest of his life[4] and she remained Handel's Prima Donna in all his later seasons, creating and interpreting parts he often wrote specifically for her. Her greatest successes were Handel's oratorios.[3]
From 1750 Messiah had annual performances at the Foundling Hospital until Handel's death and beyond.[10] Based on Frasi's professional relationship with Handel and her involvement in charity, she is likely to have taken part in most of them. Indeed, David Vickers states that "Frasi participated in all of Handel's annual performances of Messiah, in the chapel of the Foundling Hospital (from 1750)."[4]
Many of Handel's oratorios had numerous revivals with her, including in provincial cities: Oxford in 1754, 1756, 1759, Salisbury in 1758, 1761, 1765, Ranelagh in 1751, 1752, and for nine consecutive years at the Three Choirs Festival (1756–64).[3][2]
For instance:
On 22 June 1754 the Oxford Journal published the following advertising:[61]
On Wednesday the 3rd, Thursday the 4th and Friday the 5th of July, being the three Days following the Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors to the University, L'Allegro, il Penseroso, &c. Judas Macchabæus, and Messiah will be performed in the Theatre. The principal Vocal Parts by Signora Frasi, Mr. Beard, Mr. Wass, and others; and the Instrumental Parts by many of the most excellent Performers of every Kind from London. Further particulars will be specified in the Bills of each Days Performance.
On 30 June 1759 the Oxford Journal published the following advertising:[62]
On Tuesday the 3rd of July (the Day of the Installation) will be performed, in the Theatre, the Oratorio of Samson; on Wednesday the 4th (the Day appointed for commemorating our Founders and Benefactors), the Oratorio of Esther; and on the 5th Messiah, or the Sacred Oratorio; together with select pieces between the Acts (as will be specified in the Bill of each Days Performance) by a numerous and excellent Band from London, Bath and other Places. The principal Vocal Parts by Signora Frasi, Miss Brent, Mess. Beard, Champnes, Wass and Hudson from London and Master Norris from Salisbury. Tickets are to be had at Mr. Cross's Music Shop and at the Coffee Houses; Price Five Shillings.
Throughout the 1750s, "Frasi's concert repertoire stretched from Purcell to Terradellas."[4] She was considered a paramount principal soprano in English oratorios or other works of the sort by Handel and by other composers. Frasi was at nine consecutive meetings of the Three Choirs Festival: she sang for William Boyce at Hereford in 1756, then she performed for Arne, and so on. She gave regular concerts in Oxford too. She also continued to be part of the Covent Garden oratorio concerts given by Handel and, later, by John Christopher Smith and John Stanley. (The latter two would produce their own oratorios (or other works suitable for the occasion) whilst also putting together revivals of Handel's.[4]) In fact, after Handel's death in 1759, Frasi continued as Prima Donna under his successors until about 1768.[3][2]
In total Frasi also participated in at least fourteen opera seasons at the King's Theatre between 1742 and 1761.[4] In addition to which, during the 1754–1756 seasons, she regularly covered for Regina Mingotti. (Mingotti's fits of temper, antagonisms with the director of the opera company of the King's Theatre and ailings often made her "indisposed". Frasi covered for her many a time, more often than not ending up taking over Mingotti's role for the rest of the performances as Regina Mingotti "[would] not yet [have] recovered of her indisposition".[49] Michael Burden quotes the following newspaper clip:[49]
Signora Mingotti having acquainted Sig Vanneschi Yesterday Afternoon that she continues very much indisposed, and is not able to sing To morrow night, by which Reason the Opera called Ezio cannot be performed; instead thereof Sig. Vanneschi begs Leave to perform the Opera of Andromaca, in which Signora Frasi will do the part of Signora Mingotti; and Signora Peralta is to do the part of Signora Frasi.
During the 1760s, Frasi continued to play a prominent part in the musical life of London. She seems to have transitioned smoothly to the new music style of the generation of composers younger than her; composers like Philip Hayes, who announce the advent of the Classical Era.
She was part of the London Stage for about 31 years in total.[3] Aside from interpreting Handel's and other composers' music on stage, Frasi also continued to sing regularly in charity concerts; she also took part regularly in the annual Musicians Fund (and other) benefits, and sang at the Castle and Swan concerts, at Ranelagh and elsewhere.[2]
From 1764 onwards her public appearances became less frequent. In 1767 she appeared at London's Covent Garden in Esther and at Haberdashers' Hall in Messiah.[3]
She made her last appearances in 1769 in Handel's Judas Maccabaeus at the King's Theatre, and as Arbaces in Artaxerxes by Thomas Arne. The latter is her last known appearance on the stage in an opera.[3][4]
Finally, in 1770 – after having been "confined for some Time by a bad State of Health" – she appeared again at the Little Theatre on 4 May for a charity concert to her own benefit singing Judas Maccabaeus.[3][4] For this concert she gathers musical London luminaries such as Giardini, playing first violin and solos, her singer colleague Gaetano Guadagni, and cellist Jean-Pierre Duport. However, the organisation of the concert was plagued with difficulties which eventually lead her to give a "full-scale oratorio ... at the unsociable hour of noon."[4][60]
Three years later she appeared in a few concerts, making a new "come-back" about which The Morning Post and Daily Advertiser wrote sarcastically: "Signora Frazi, who may be said, with respect to the musical world, to have been long since dead and buried, is expected to rise again in Lent[.]" Vickers adds that "the soprano's comeback comprised a few scattered concerts at inauspicious venues".[4]
Frasi was not only able to quickly win over the London opera stage, but she had Handel's assent as well. She also gained the affection and became a favourite of the English public.
The thirty-one-year career that Frasi enjoyed in London was broad and varied. She was Handel's last prima donna, but she also sang Gluck, the Venetian heritage style of Galuppi, the Neapolitans like Porpora, Pergolesi, Lampugnani, Hasse, Cocchi, and English composers, among which Boyce, Smith, Hayes and Arne.[1] Operas and oratorios on the London stage were a rather important part of her career but so was her music making in other occasions. She did have a non-negligeable place in London's community of musicians and participated in the cultural richness and musical diversity of London and Britain during the mid-Georgian era.[4]
Ruby Hughes says of the roles written by Handel for Frasi that they "seem to engender a depth of female characterisation which may well have subverted the norm at a time". The soprano adds that she is "struck by the significance of [Frasi's] considerable achievements."[17]
Frasi's infamous profligacy inevitably caused problems when her vocal powers ran out. Her accumulated debts due to her expensive and extravagant lifestyle reduced her to poverty, so much so that, in her latest years, after her last documented concert at Hickford's Room on 16 May 1774, she allegedly found herself forced to flee to Calais where she died destitute.[3][2][4]