Clorinda Corradi

Clorinda Corradi (November 27, 1804 – June 29, 1877) was an Italian opera singer and one of the most famous contraltos in history.

Clorinda Corradi Pantanelli was born in Urbino, Italy. She was the daughter of a nobleman, Filippo Corradi, and countess Vittoria Peroli. Corradi received her musical education in Urbino. Initially, her father enrolled her at the Cappella Musicale di Urbino under the direction of music teacher and composer Filippo Celli. She was obliged to make a living by singing because of the family's economic situation. She began her career at the Recanati theatre in 1823 with the Rossini's operas L'Italiana in Algeri and La Cenerentola and was received well by audiences and critics. Between 1823 and 1835 she gave a series of performances in the most famous Italian theatres (La Scala, Milan; Teatro Comunale, Bologna; La Fenice, Venice; Teatro Comunale, Ravenna; La Pergola, Florence; Teatro San Carlo, Naples; etc.). In Europe, Corradi sang in Spain (Barcelona, Seville). She also sang the title role at the premiere of Donizetti's Ugo, conte di Parigi at La Scala Theatre in Milan.

In 1823 she married Raffaele Pantanelli. They had one daughter, Alaide, and one son, Romeo. Alaide became a dramatic actress. Both children moved to Chile between 1835 and 1847. In 1831, she was elected as an honorary member of Accademia Veneziana.

In October 1835, with the help of her agent and husband Raffaele Pantanelli, she went to La Habana, Cuba, with her brother Nestore Corradi and, on November 14, 1836 she made her debut in a new production of Francesco Morlacchi's Tebaldo ed Isolina. On November 20, 1839 she debuted in the Tacon Theatre (Great Theatre of Havana). She toured South America extensively, and frequently sang tenor leads.

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