Cesare Bossi Explained

Cesare Bossi (1773—September 1802) was an Italian-born composer. He is most known as a composer of ballets which he wrote for the King's Theatre in Haymarket in London.

Career

Bossi was born in Ferrara in 1773.^[1]

None of the sources provide information about his training or early career. One source states that while in Italy he wrote operas as well as piano music including sonatas.^[1]

In 1795 he emigrated to London.^{[2] [3]} There he became associated with the King's Theatre in Haymarket where he was a composer of ballets, a conductor, and responsible for the musical preparation of operas. "In this task there have been few who could excel him."^{[4] [3]} His association with the theatre lasted from 1795 to 1796 through the 1799–1800 season. Most of his ballets were written between 1796 and 1800.^[3] It was said that he composed with "unexampled rapidity."^[4] and that his melodies were of high quality.^[4]

He married a Mademoise del Caro, a dancer in the company. She began to be billed as "Madame Bossi" as of 6 February 1796.^[3] By 2 June 1800 the couple were living at No. 1 Great Suffolk Street.^[3]

In September 1802, the Monthly Mirror reported that Bossi had died in the King's Bench Prison "of a deep decline." The paper called him "A musical professor of eminent talents."^[3] He left his widow Del Caro and four children.^[4]

List of works

Ballets^[3]

Title	Date of first performance	Choreographer	Remarks
Acis and Galatea	10 June 1797	Charles Didelot^[5]
Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene	26 March 1801	Charles Didelot^[6]	co-composed with Vincenzo Federici
L’amant statue	21 April 1796	Giacomo Onorati^[7]
L’amour vangé	2 June 1796	Charles Didelot^[8]
Apollon berger	27 December 1796	Sébastian Gallet^[9]
Bacchus and Ariadne	28 November 1797	Sébastian Gallet^[10]
Barader	29 May 1800	James Harvey D'Egville^[11]
La chasse d'amour	2 January 1798	Sébastian Gallet^[12]
Cinderella or The glass slipper	1803?^[13]
Constante et Alcidonis	1798	Sébastian Gallet^[14]
Les délassements militaires	16 January 1797	Sébastian Gallet^[15]	co-composed with Joseph Mazzinghi
The deserter	12 February 1799	Sébastian Gallet^[16]	based on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteur
Les deux jumelles	1799	James Harvey D'Egville^[17]
Flore et Zephire	7 July 1796	Charles Didelot^[18]
Heliska ou La fille soldat	16 June 1801	Charles Didelot^[19]
L’heureux retour	28 March 1797	Sébastian Gallet^[20]
Hylas et Témire	1799	James Harvey D'Egville^[21]
Irza	2 February 1802	James Harvey D'Egville^[22]
Les jeux d’Eglé	11 January 1800	James Harvey D'Egville^[23]
Jugement de Midas	20 February 1802	James Harvey D'Egville^[24]
Ken-Si and Tao	14 May 1801	Charles Didelot^[25]
Laura et Lenza	8 May 1800	Charles Didelot^[26]
Little Peggy's love	21 April 1796	Charles Didelot^[27]
Le marchand de Smyrne	1799?	Monsieur Barré^[28]
L’offrande a Terpsichore	28 November 1797	Sébastian Gallet^[29]
Pigmalion	3 January 1801	James Harvey D'Egville^[30]
Télémaque	26 March 1799	James Harvey D'Egville^[31]	co-composed with James Harvey D'Egville
Le triomphe de Thémis	1798	Sébastian Gallet^[32]

Other works

• Overture to Blue Beard (opera by Michael Kelly) (most vocal scores of the opera have Kelly's own overture)
• Pas de trois from La fille mal gardée (bulk of ballet composed by unidentified composer, 18 April 1799)
• Hornpipe from Barbara and Allen (ballet by James Harvey D'Egville)
• Variations, D minor, piano^[33]

Notes and References

1. John Denison Champlin, Cyclopedia of music & musicians (New York: Scribner, 1888), vol. 1, p. 217.
2. A Dictionary of Musicians from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time... (London: Sainsbury & Co., 1824), vol. 1 p. 108.
3. Philip H. Highfill, et al., A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London, 1660-1800 (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1973), vol. 2, page 240-241.
4. William Bingley, Musical biography 2nd edition (London: Henry Colburn, 1834), vol. 2, p. 310.
5. Web site: Acis and Galatea : the favorite grand ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org.
6. Alonzo the brave and the fair Imogene
7. Web site: The favourite ballet of L'Amant statue : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org.
8. Web site: L'amour vangé : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket for Madme. Rose's benefit | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org.
9. Web site: The pastoral ballet of Apollon berger : as performed at the King's Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
10. Web site: Bacchus & Ariadne : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre, 1797-8 | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
11. Web site: The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
12. Web site: The celebrated La chasse in the divertisment ballet of La chasse d'amour : being the overture to Le jeune Henri | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
13. Web site: Cinderella's minuet : as danced by Miss De Camp & Mr. Byrne, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in the grand spectacle of Cinderella | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
14. Web site: Constante et Alcidonis. a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre, Haymarket, 1798 | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
15. Web site: Les delassements militaires : the favorite divertisment | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
16. Web site: The deserter : a grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, 1799 | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
17. Web site: The favorite divertisment Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
18. Web site: Flore et Zephire a grand ballet | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org.
19. Web site: Six opera divertimentos from Heliska, ou La fille soldat : a favorite dance as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
20. Web site: The favorite divertissement ballet called L'heureux retour, ou Le vainqueur genereux : as performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
21. Web site: The favorite divertisment, Barader : as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
22. Web site: Irza : a favorite ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org.
23. Web site: Les jeux d'Egle : the favorite grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
24. Web site: The judgement of Midas : a new divertisment ballet performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
25. Web site: Didelot's much admired Chinese ballet entitled Ken-si and Tao | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
26. Web site: Laura et Lenza : a grand ballet, as performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
27. Web site: Little Peggy's love : the favorite Scotch ballet, performed at the Kings Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
28. Web site: The favorite divertissement of Le marchand de Smyrne | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
29. Web site: The favorite air danced by Mr. & Mrs. Laborie in the ballet of L'offrande à Therpsicore : arranged as a rondo for the piano forte | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
30. Web site: Pigamlion : a grand ballet, performed at the King's Theatre | WorldCat.org. search.worldcat.org. 12 January 2024.
31. Web site: Telemaque : grand ballet as performed at the Kings Theatre Hay-Market | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org.
32. Web site: Le Triomphe de Themis, a grand ballet, as performed at the Kings Theatre Haymarket, '97-'98 | WorldCat.org. www.worldcat.org.
33. Variations