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Faustina Bordoni

Faustina Bordoni - great mezzo-soprano and beautiful woman, this is exactly what the contemporaries said about her. Charles Burney (English composer and music historian, the friend of Bordoni and her husband) said that Bordoni was charming and lively woman. Faustina collaborated with many great composers of that time, including Maestro Handel.

Faustina Bordoni was born on March 30, 1697 in Venice. Bordoni came from the noble family and Bordoni’s parents gave her really good music education. Faustina was taught by brothers - composers Alessandro and Benedetto Marcello and also Michelangelo Gasparini. Bordoni’s music career started in 1716, when the singer made her opera debut in Carlo Francesco Polarollo’s work - Ariodante.

At that moment, when Faustina arrived to London (1726), she was already very well known in Europe. Public liked singer for her charisma and flexible lovely voice. Charles Burney repeatedly noted that: “she is really good in controlling her breathe while singing; she is very well educated especially in music”.

In London Faustina Bordoni joined the “dream team” of Royal Academy. Francesca Cuzzoni and Senesino already sang there. From 1726 to 1728 Handel wrote for Bordoni such great roles like: Roxana in Alessandro; Alcestis in Admeto, Pulcheria in Riccardo Primo, Emira in Siroe and Elisa in Tolomeo.

In 1730, after Royal Academy collapsed, Bordoni got married with German composer Johann Adolph Hasse. Same year the couple moved to Dresden, where composer served as maestro di capella. Faustina continued her vocal career at the Saxon court. In Dresden Bordoni was very well paid, in fact, she was getting more than her husband.

Marriage of Bordoni and Hasse was pretty successful. It was an union of two bright and creative persons; it was an union based on true love, respect and affection. The couple had three kids: 2 daughters (they were taught as singers) and a son.

In 1773 Bordoni and Hasse moved to Venice, there on November 4, 1781, the singer died.

Faustina Bordoni had a colorful and happy life. Unlike her “stage rival” Francesca Cuzzoni, who died in poverty, Bordoni was a rich lady until the rest of her life.


Author: Alisia Holainen
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