A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Girardeau, Isabella

GIRARDEAU, Isabella, detta LA ISABELLA, an Italian singer, married to a Frenchman, who performed in the early Italian Operas in London. She is, perhaps, the same as the Isabella Calliari mentioned in Quadrio's list among the female singers who flourished from 1700–20. She succeeded 'the Baroness' at the Haymarket, and appeared first in 'Almahide.' She sang in the first and succeeding performances of Handel's 'Rinaldo.' In this, one of her songs, 'Bel piacer,' was wholly unaccompanied even by a bass,—a severe trial for any voice. On Dec. 12 of the same year, Gasparini's 'Antiochus' was produced, in which La Isabella took a part, as she did also in the following January in his 'Ambleto.' In the latter she had 'a noisy song for trumpets and hautbois obligati' (Burney), from which it may be inferred that her voice was very strong.

[ J. M. ]