CATALANI, Angelica, Italian singer: b. Sinigaglia, most probably in 1782, although several other years are given ; d. Paris, 13 June 1849. As early as her seventh year her mag nificent voice had become the subject of gen eral remark, but it was not till the age of 14 that she received any instruction in the higher departments of the musical art. At 16 she was compelled by family misfortunes to turn her talents to account, and made her first appear ance on the stage at Venice. She afterward filled the grand soprano parts at the operas of Milan, Florence, Rome and Naples and in 1799 accepted an engagement at the opera of Lis bon, where she continued for fiveyears. She then visited successively Madrid, Paris, Lon don and the principal towns of Great Britain, in all of which her success and profits were im mense. In 1814 she returned to Paris to take the management of the Italian opera there, but sustained thereby severe pecuniary losses from the injudicious interference of her husband, de Valabregue, formerly a captain in the French army. On Napoleon's return in 1815 she was obliged to resign the direction of the opera, but resumed it again on the second restoration. In
1818 she again resigned the direction of the opera, and from that year till 1828 made re peated professional tours through the Continent and Great Britain. In 1830 she retired from public life to a villa in the neighborhood of Florence, and here she resided with her fam ily and gave instruction to girls who manifested indications of local talent, one condition being required from them that they should adopt the name of Catalani. She was a woman of ma jestic appearance and her voice displayed a wonderful degree of power, flexibility and compass. She rather astonished and over powered an audience than touched or subdued their hearts by her marvelous execution. Con sult Edwards, 'The Prima Donna> (Vol. I, London 1::•:) ; Ferris, 'Great Singers' (New York 1893) • Needham,