Cesare Bossi

{{Short description|Italian composer (1773–1802)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}

Cesare Bossi (1773—September 1802) was an Italian-born composer. He is most known as a composer of ballets which he wrote for the King's Theatre in Haymarket in London.

Career

Bossi was born in Ferrara in 1773.John Denison Champlin, Cyclopedia of music & musicians (New York: Scribner, 1888), vol. 1, p. 217.

None of the sources provide information about his training or early career. One source states that while in Italy he wrote operas as well as piano music including sonatas.

In 1795, he emigrated to London.A Dictionary of Musicians from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time... (London: Sainsbury & Co., 1824), vol. 1 p. 108.Philip H. Highfill, et al., A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London, 1660-1800 (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1973), vol. 2, page 240-241. There he became associated with the King's Theatre in Haymarket where he was a composer of ballets, a conductor, and responsible for the musical preparation of operas. "In this task there have been few who could excel him."William Bingley, Musical biography 2nd edition (London: Henry Colburn, 1834), vol. 2, p. 310. His association with the theatre lasted from 1795 to 1796 through the 1799–1800 season. Most of his ballets were written between 1796 and 1800. It was said that he composed with "unexampled rapidity", and that his melodies were of high quality.

He married a Mademoise del Caro, a dancer in the company. She began to be billed as "Madame Bossi" as of 6 February 1796. By 2 June 1800, the couple were living at No. 1 Great Suffolk Street.

In September 1802, the Monthly Mirror reported that Bossi had died in the King's Bench Prison "of a deep decline." The paper called him "A musical professor of eminent talents." He left his widow Del Caro and four children.

List of works

Ballets

class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
style="width:20%; text-align:center;" |Title

! style="width:10%; text-align:center;" |Date of first performance

! style="width:20%; text-align:center;" |Choreographer

! style="width:25%; text-align:center;" |Remarks

Acis and Galatea10 June 1797Charles Didelot{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/612477338|title=Acis and Galatea : the favorite grand ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=www.worldcat.org}}
Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene26 March 1801Charles Didelot{{RISM|991014583}} Alonzo the brave and the fair Imogeneco-composed with Vincenzo Federici
L’amant statue21 April 1796Giacomo Onorati{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/932552321|title=The favourite ballet of L'Amant statue : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org|website=www.worldcat.org}}
L’amour vangé2 June 1796Charles Didelot{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/181914930|title=L'amour vangé : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket for Madme. Rose's benefit | WorldCat.org|website=www.worldcat.org}}
Apollon berger27 December 1796Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/231716901|title=The pastoral ballet of Apollon berger : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Bacchus and Ariadne28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/63597569|title=Bacchus & Ariadne : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre, 1797-8 | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Barader29 May 1800James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/612477293|title=The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
La chasse d'amour2 January 1798Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/612688666|title=The celebrated La chasse in the divertisment ballet of La chasse d'amour : being the overture to Le jeune Henri | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Cinderella or The glass slipper1803?{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/893146190|title=Cinderella's minuet : as danced by Miss De Camp & Mr. Byrne, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in the grand spectacle of Cinderella | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Constante et Alcidonis1798Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/181917243|title=Constante et Alcidonis. a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre, Haymarket, 1798 | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Les délassements militaires16 January 1797Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/181940164|title=Les delassements militaires : the favorite divertisment | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}co-composed with Joseph Mazzinghi
The deserter12 February 1799Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/612688772|title=The deserter : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, 1799 | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}based on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteur
Les deux jumelles1799James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/81703046|title=The favorite divertisment Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Flore et Zephire7 July 1796Charles Didelot{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/30126134|title=Flore et Zephire a grand ballet | WorldCat.org|website=www.worldcat.org}}
Heliska ou La fille soldat16 June 1801Charles Didelot{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/82445316|title=Six opera divertimentos from Heliska, ou La fille soldat : a favorite dance as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
L’heureux retour28 March 1797Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/63597572|title=The favorite divertissement ballet called L'heureux retour, ou Le vainqueur genereux : as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Hylas et Témire1799James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/181914933|title=The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Irza2 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/144658211|title=Irza : a favorite ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org|website=www.worldcat.org}}
Les jeux d’Eglé11 January 1800James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/612689431|title=Les jeux d'Egle : the favorite grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Jugement de Midas20 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/612686962|title=The judgement of Midas : a new divertisment ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Ken-Si and Tao14 May 1801Charles Didelot{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/63597571|title=Didelot's much admired Chinese ballet entitled Ken-si and Tao | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Laura et Lenza8 May 1800Charles Didelot{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/932552332|title=Laura et Lenza : a grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Little Peggy's love21 April 1796Charles Didelot{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/612688287|title=Little Peggy's love : the favorite Scotch ballet, performed at the Kings Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Le marchand de Smyrne1799?Monsieur Barré{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/24657555|title=The favorite divertissement of Le marchand de Smyrne | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
L’offrande a Terpsichore28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/1051566714|title=The favorite air danced by Mr. & Mrs. Laborie in the ballet of L'offrande à Therpsicore : arranged as a rondo for the piano forte | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Pigmalion3 January 1801James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/83224594|title=Pigamlion : a grand ballet, performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org|website=search.worldcat.org|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
Télémaque26 March 1799James Harvey D'Egville{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/863462108|title=Telemaque : grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Hay-Market | WorldCat.org|website=www.worldcat.org}}co-composed with James Harvey D'Egville
Le triomphe de Thémis1798Sébastian Gallet{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/24949957|title=Le Triomphe de Themis, a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, '97-'98 | WorldCat.org|website=www.worldcat.org}}

Other works

  • Overture to Blue Beard (opera by Michael Kelly) (most vocal scores of the opera have Kelly's own overture)
  • Pas de trois from La fille mal gardée (bulk of ballet composed by unidentified composer, 18 April 1799)
  • Hornpipe from Barbara and Allen (ballet by James Harvey D'Egville)
  • Variations, D minor, piano{{RISM|454016874}} Variations

References

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