CATALANI, ANGELICA (178o-1849), Italian opera singer, was born at Sinigaglia, and was the lucky possessor of one of the most remarkable soprano voices, of extraordinary compass and purity, ever known. For nearly thirty years she sang at all the great opera houses, receiving very large fees ; her first appear ance in London having been at the King's theatre in 18o6. She remained in England, a prima donna without a serious rival, for seven years. Then she was given the management of the opera in Paris, but this resulted in financial failure, owing to the in capacity and extravagance of her husband, Captain Valabregue —author of the historic remark "ma femme et quatre ou cinq poupees voila tout ce qu'il faut"—whom she had married in 18o6. But her continental tours continued to be enormously successful until she retired in 1828. She died of cholera in Paris.