Caterina Galli

Caterina Galli (c. 1723 - 1804) was an Italian operatic mezzo-soprano. She first rose to fame in England in the 1740s and early 1750s where she was particularly admired for her performances in the works of George Frideric Handel. She then enjoyed success in her native country in the 1750s and 1760s, before returning to England where she remained active as a performer up through 1797.

Nothing is known of Galli's early training and career other than it took place in her native country. The first definitive account of the singer was in 1742 when she arrived in London with fellow opera singer Giulia Frasi. She made her first appearance on the London stage on 12 December 1742 as Artaserse in the world premiere of Giuseppe Ferdinando Brivio's Mandane. Music historian Charles Burney wrote that, "Galli, after transplantation from Italy, took root in this country, and remained here in great public favor for many years." Her operatic repertoire consisted mainly of breeches roles. In 1753 she sang the role of the Spirit in the premiere of the final revision of Thomas Arne's Alfred.

Galli's lasting legacy was her work as an oratorio singer. A pupil of George Frideric Handel, she notably sang in the world premieres of Judas Maccabaeus (1747, Israelite man), Joshua (1747, Othniel), Alexander Balus (1748, title role), Solomon (1749, title role), Susanna (1749, Joachim), Theodora (1749, Irene), and Jephtha (1752, Storgé). She also appeared at the King's Theatre in the premieres of two of Handel's pastiches, Rossane o Alessandro nell'Indie (1743) and Lucio Vero (1747), and performed in revivals of several of his other oratorios and operas.

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