Achilles Bonoldi
Bonoldi Józef Achilles, *1821 Barcelona, †1871 Paris, a singer (baritone) and writer of Italian origin. In 1842, he arrived in Vilnius, where he taught singing, including at the Institute for Nobles, and gave concerts. He was friends with Moniuszko, who wrote many songs for him, as well as the part of Jontek in the Vilnius version of Halka. He was the leading performer of many of Moniuszko’s songs, helped the composer prepare the premiere of Halka in the Vilnius version, and translated the libretto of this opera into Italian. As a result of his activities related to the January Uprising, he was forced to leave Poland and settle in exile (in Paris in 1863). He died in 1871 during the events of the Paris Commune.
Literature: J. Gieysztor Pamiętnik, Wilno 1913; W. Rudziński Stanisław Moniuszko, 2 parts, Krakow 1955, 1961.