Storace, Anna Selina

1766-1817

 

Noted English coloratura soprano; born at London. She was first taught to sing by her father, Stefano Storace, an eminent Italian doublebass player, who settled in England, and when only eight she appeared at a public concert. Rauzzini was her next teacher, but in 1778 she went to Italy to finish under Sacchini at Venice. She made her operatic debut at Florence in 1780. Next year she sang at Parma, in 1782 at La Scala, Milan, and from 1784 to 1787 at the Imperial Theatre in Vienna, where she created the role of Susanna, in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. There she made an unfortunate marriage with John A. Fisher. They separated soon after and on her return to England even to her death she kept this marriage secret. In 1787 she was engaged for Italian Opera at King's Theatre, but in 1789 went over to Drury Lane, where she made her first appearance in English Opera in her brother's opera, The Haunted Tower. She sang there until 1801, but from then till her retirement in 1808 she was at Covent Garden. The last years of her life were spent at Dulwich.