Clorinda Corradi

Clorinda Corradi (November 27, 1804 – June 29, 1877) was an Italian opera singer and one of the most famous contraltos in history.

Life
Clorinda Corradi Pantanelli was born in Urbino, Italy. She was the daughter of a nobleman, Filippo Corradi, and countess Vittoria Peroli. Corradi received her musical education in Urbino. Initially, her father enrolled her at the Cappella Musicale di Urbino under the direction of music teacher and composer Filippo Celli. She was obliged to make a living by singing because of the family's economic situation. She began her career at the Recanati theatre in 1823 with the Rossini's operas L'Italiana in Algeri and La Cenerentola and was received well by audiences and critics. Between 1823 and 1835 she gave a series of performances in the most famous Italian theatres (La Scala, Milan; Teatro Comunale, Bologna; La Fenice, Venice; Teatro Comunale, Ravenna; La Pergola, Florence; Teatro San Carlo, Naples; etc.). In Europe, Corradi sang in Spain (Barcelona, Seville). She also sang the trouser role of Luigi at the premiere of Donizetti's Ugo, conte di Parigi at La Scala Theatre in Milan.

In 1823 she married Raffaele Pantanelli. They had one daughter, Alaide, and one son, Romeo. Alaide became a dramatic actress. Both children moved to Chile between 1835 and 1847. In 1831, she was elected as an honorary member of Accademia Veneziana. In October 1835, with the help of her agent and husband Raffaele Pantanelli, she went to La Habana, Cuba, with her brother Nestore Corradi and, on November 14, 1836 she made her debut in a new production of Francesco Morlacchi's Tebaldo ed Isolina. On November 20, 1839 she debuted in the Tacon Theatre (Great Theatre of Havana). She toured South America extensively, and frequently sang tenor leads.

In April–July 1837 and March–April 1842, Corradi and members of the Lyrical Company went to New Orleans to give a series of performances at the Theatre d'Orleans and St. Charles Theatre.

On September 2, 1840, Corradi debuted in Lima, Peru with Giulietta e Romeo and, together and the Lyrical Company directed by Raffaele Pantanelli, she remained in Peru until 1843. The last performance in Lima was on September 2, 1843. In 1844, the Lyrical Company moved to Santiago, Chile. On April 2, 1844 they gave I Capuleti e i Montecchi at Santiago University Theatre. On December 16, 1844 Corradi inaugurated the new famous Victory Theatre in Valparaiso with Nicola Vaccai's Giulietta e Romeo. She remained in Valparaiso until February 28, 1847 (last performance: Elisa e Claudio). Between 1847 and 1856, critical reviews of the Lyrical Company are limited to performances in Santiago except for some brief references to those in other provincial cities such as Valparaíso. For the most part, reviews deal with the Italian opera company managed by Rafael and Clorinda Pantanelli which included the soprano Teresa Rossi, the tenor Juan Ubaldi and the baritone Luis Cavedagni in operas by Donizetti, Verdi, Rossini and Mercadante.

In March 1861, Corradi was named teacher of Santiago Conservatory. She retired on December 20, 1876. Clorinda Corradi died in 1877 in Santiago at age 72.

During her life she gave hundreds of performances of Vincenzo Bellini, Saverio Mercadante, Donizetti, Verdi, Carlo Coccia, Nicola Vaccai and Gioacchino Rossini.

Cultural references
Clorinda Corradi was portrayed by Raymond Monvoisin in 1845 (Museo Historico National, Santiago) and in 1842 by Clara Filleul (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago).