Agujari, Lucrezia

1743-1783

A very remarkable Italian singer. Mozart records that she possessed a " lovely voice, a flexible throat and an incredibly high range." She was born at Ferrara, Italy, the natural daughter of a man of high degree, and was generally referred to as La Bastardella. She received her training under Abbe Lambertini, made her debut in Florence, and sang with brilliant success in London and various towns of Italy. The prices she received were phenomenal for the times, five hundred dollars a night being paid her at one period of her career. She was married in 1780 to Colla, Court director to the Duke of Parma and a celebrated composer, who wrote most of her songs, and was the author of the opera II Tolomeo, in which she created a great sensation at Milan.