A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Gismondi, Celeste

GISMONDI, Celeste, a mezzo-soprano engaged at the opera in London from 1732–34. She made her first appearance (Dec. 1732) as Lisaura in Handel's 'Alessandro.' She played a small part in the 'Orlando ' (1733), one of her songs in which ('Amor e qual vento') contains Handel's first venture at a 'diminished seventh.' Parts were assigned to her (1733) also in 'Deborah,' 'Tolomeo,' and 'Ottone,' but, after this, she is said by M. Schcelcher to have assisted in setting up the rival theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. The newspapers of the day (Nov. 3, 1735), however, give another account of her secession, by announcing the death of 'Signora Celeste Gismondi ... Wife to Mr. Hempson an English Gentleman, on Tuesday [Oct. 28], after a lingering Illness. She perform'd in Mr. Handel's Operas for several Winters with great Applause, but did not sing this season on any stage, on Account of her Indisposition.'

[ J. M. ]