Francesca Vanini-Boschi (died 1744) was an Italian

contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically b ...

singer of the 18th century. She is best remembered for her association with the composer

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

, for whom she sang both in Italy and in London. Vanini was born in Bologna. As well as singing for Handel, she also sang in operas by

Alessandro Scarlatti Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan school of opera. ...

and

Giovanni Bononcini Giovanni Bononcini (or Buononcini) (18 July 1670 – 9 July 1747) (sometimes cited also as Giovanni Battista Bononcini) was an Italian Baroque composer, cellist, singer and teacher, one of a family of string players and composers. Biography E ...

. She frequently sang alongside her husband, the bass

Giuseppe Maria Boschi Giuseppe Maria Boschi (born Viterbo !--According to the reference; the previous Mantua, however, accords with the Italian Wikipedia, and may be correct.-->; '' fl'' 1698–1744) was an Italian bass singer – though in modern terms a bariton ...

. Her two Handel roles were those of Otho in '' Agrippina'' and Goffredo in ''

Rinaldo Rinaldo may refer to: *Renaud de Montauban (also spelled Renaut, Renault, Italian: Rinaldo di Montalbano, Dutch: Reinout van Montalbaen, German: Reinhold von Montalban), a legendary knight in the medieval Matter of France * Rinaldo (''Jerusalem Lib ...

''; these roles use only a limited range and tessitura. After ''Rinaldo'' her voice began to decline, but earlier Giuseppe Felice Tosi had praised her for her ability to introduce "Graces without transgressing against Time". She died in Venice.

References

Winton Dean: "Vanini oschi Francesca", ''Grove Music Online'' ed L. Macy (Accessed 5 December 2006)
grovemusic.com
, subscription access. Italian contraltos Italian opera singers Operatic contraltos 1744 deaths Year of birth unknown {{italy-opera-singer-stub