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 TitleDate of first performanceChoreographerRemarksAcis and Galatea 10 June 1797 Charles DidelotAlonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene 26 March 1801 Charles Didelot Alonzo the brave and the fair Imogene co-composed with Vincenzo FedericiL’amant statue 21 April 1796 Giacomo OnoratiL’amour vangé 2 June 1796 Charles DidelotApollon berger 27 December 1796 Sébastian GalletBacchus and Ariadne 28 November 1797 Sébastian GalletBarader 29 May 1800 James Harvey D'EgvilleLa chasse d'amour 2 January 1798 Sébastian GalletCinderella or The glass slipper 1803?Constante et Alcidonis 1798 Sébastian Gallet Les délassements militaires 16 January 1797 Sébastian Gallet co-composed with Joseph MazzinghiThe deserter 12 February 1799 Sébastian Gallet based on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteurLes deux jumelles 1799 James Harvey D'EgvilleFlore et Zephire 7 July 1796 Charles DidelotHeliska ou La fille soldat 16 June 1801 Charles DidelotL’heureux retour 28 March 1797 Sébastian GalletHylas et Témire 1799 James Harvey D'EgvilleIrza 2 February 1802 James Harvey D'EgvilleLes jeux d’Eglé 11 January 1800 James Harvey D'EgvilleJugement de Midas 20 February 1802 James Harvey D'EgvilleKen-Si and Tao 14 May 1801 Charles DidelotLaura et Lenza 8 May 1800 Charles Didelot Little Peggy's love 21 April 1796 Charles DidelotLe marchand de Smyrne 1799? Monsieur BarréL’offrande a Terpsichore 28 November 1797 Sébastian GalletPigmalion 3 January 1801 James Harvey D'EgvilleTélémaque 26 March 1799 James Harvey D'Egville co-composed with James Harvey D'EgvilleLe triomphe de Thémis 1798 Sébastian Gallet
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 Variations
References
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