Barili-Patti, Caterina

OPERA SINGER (ITALY)
BORN c1790, Roma, Lazio - DIED 6 Sep 1870, Roma, Lazio
BIRTH NAME Chiesa, Catarina
GRAVE LOCATION Roma, Lazio: Cimitero Monumentale del Verano, Piazzale del Verano, 1 (Quadriportico, Loggia: Arch 37)

The soprano Caterina Chiesi was educated by Francesco Barilli, whom she married. They had four children, Clotilde (d.1856), Ettore 1829-1885), Antonio (1820-1876) and Nicolo (d.1878) and all became successful singers or musicians. Caterina Barili was primadonna at several opera houses in Italy. At the Teatro San Carlo she was Elvira in Bellini's "I puritani".

After Barili's death she married the singer Salvatore Patti (1800-1869) in 1830. Their three daughters Amelia (1831-1915), Carlotta (1835-1889) and Adelina (1843-1919) became became very famous singers. Their son Carlo (1842-1873) was a well known violin player and conductor.

On 18 November 1836 she sang at the premiere of Donizetti's "L'Assedio di Calais" at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. She also appeared there as Elvira in Bellino's "I puritani".

In the early 1840s she worked for the opera in Madrid. In 1844 she went to the USA with her husband. There Salvatore managed the Palmo's Opera House and the Astor Place Opera House. Late in the 1840s she lost her voice and a critic of the New York Herald stated in 1848 after an appearance at Castle Garden in Manhattan that 'her voice was a ruin'.

She spent her later years in Paris and in her native Italy. Her husband died in 1869 in Paris and she died in Rome in 1870.

Family
• Daughter: Patti, Adelina, Baroness Cederström
• Daughter: Patti, Carlotta
• Daughter: Patti, Amelia
• Husband: Patti, Salvatore (1830-)

Events
19/11/1836Premiere of Donizetti's "L'assedio di Calais" at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. It was an opera in three acts with an Italian libretto written by Salvatore Cammarano. It was based on Luigi Marchionni's play and Luigi Henry's ballet, both of the same name. The cast included Paul Barroilhet, Caterina Barilli-Patti and Luigi Lablache. 

Images

The grave of Caterina Barili-Patti at the Cimitero Monumentale del Verano, Roma.
Picture by Androom (18 Feb 2020)

 

The grave of Caterina Barili-Patti at the Cimitero Monumentale del Verano, Roma.
Picture by Androom (18 Feb 2020)

 

Sources
L'assedio di Calais - Wikipedia
Caterina Barili - Wikipedia
Caterina Patti – Verano Monumental Cemetery in Rome


Barilli, Bruno

Published: 15 Mar 2020
Last update: 03 Dec 2023