Grisi, Giuditta
Grisi Giulia, *28 July 1811 Milan, †29 November 1869 Berlin, Giuditta’s sister, Italian singer (soprano). She studied at J. Grassini and A. Marliani in Milan, then at J. Giacomello in Bologna, where she debuted in season 1828–29 as Emma in Rossini’s Zelmira. Then she sang in Florence and Venice, and in 1831, she performed in La Scala in Milan in, among others, the premiere of Bellini’s Norma, performing the part of Adalgisa written for her (the title role in this performance was played by G. Pasta). In 1832, Grisi went to Paris, where until 1849 she performed in Théâtre Italien, managed by Rossini, in the summers of 1834–41 and 1843–47, she sang in London. In 1836, she married Gerard de Melcy, from whom she later separated. Together with her partner and life companion, tenor Mario, she went on artistic tours to St. Petersburg (1849), Madrid (1853) and New York (1854). In 1857, she came back to Théâtre Italien in Paris and in 1858, she sang at Covent Garden in London. In 1859, she performed in Dublin and again in Madrid. In 1861, her farewell performance took place in Covent Garden, and after that, she only appeared in concerts. She was one of the most famous singers of the bel canto era. She had a perfectly trained voice with a large range. She successfully sang coloratura parts in operas by Mozart, Rossini and Donizetti, and performed dramatic roles in operas by Bellini, Verdi and Meyerbeer. Bellini wrote Puritans (1835) for her, and Donizetti wrote his Don Pasquale (1843) for her and Mario.