A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Amicis, Anna de

AMICIS, ANNA LUCIA DE, a very celebrated singer, born at Naples about 1740. She was at first successful only in 'Opera Buffa,' in which she sang in London in 1763, appearing in 'La Cascina', a pasticcio, given by John Christian Bach, and other similar pieces. Bach, however, thought so highly of her that he wrote for her in serious opera, in which she continued afterwards to perform until she left the stage. Burney says she was the first singer who sang rapid ascending scales staccato, mounting with ease as high as E in altissimo. Her voice and manner of singing were exquisitely polished and sweet; and 'she had not a movement that did not charm the eye, nor a tone but what delighted the ear.' In 1771 she retired, and married a secretary of the King of Naples, named Buonsollazzi. In 1773 she sang in Mozart's early opera, 'Lucio Silla,' at Milan, the principal part of Giunia. On this occasion she exerted herself much in behalf of the young composer, who took great pains to please her, and embellished her principal air with new and peculiar passages of extraordinary difficulty. On the night of the first performance the tenor, who was inexperienced, 'being required, during the first air of the prima donna, to make some demonstration of anger towards her, so exaggerated the demands of the situation, that it seemed as if he were about to give her a box on the ear, or to knock her nose off with his fist, and at this the audience began to laugh. Signora de Amicis, in the heat of her singing, not knowing why the public laughed, was surprised; and being unaware of the ridiculous cause, did not sing well the first evening, and an additional reason for this may be found in a feeling of jealousy that the primo uomo (Morgnoni), immediately on his appearance on the scene, should be applauded by the Archduchess. This, however, was only the trick of a musico; for he had contrived to have it represented to the Archduchess that he would be unable to sing from fear, in order to secure immediate applause and encouragement from the court. But to console de Amicis, she was sent for the next day to court, and had an audience of both their royal highnesses for an hour^[1]. In 1789 she still sang well, though nearly fifty years old. The date of her death is not known.

[ J. M. ]

1. Letter of Leopold Mozart.