Barbara Marchisio by Unknown (Disderi image)

Barbara Marchisio as Arsace Rossini’s Sémiramis,

BARBARA MARCHISIO
( 6 December 1833 -19 April 1919)
Italian Contralto
Debut Vicenza in 1856 as Adalgisa in Norma , and then performed at the Teatro Real in Madrid , The Barber of Seville , La Cenerentola , Linda di Chamounix and Lucrezia Borgia . Since 1858 she formed an inseparable duo with her ​​sister Carlotta, they performed throughout Italy and in Europe , with a repertoire focused on Rossini : ( Matilde di Shabran , Semiramide ), but also extended to the next romantic opera ( Norma , La Sonnambula ) and Verdi ( Il trovatore , Un ballo in maschera ), and the previous classicism ( Don Giovanni by Mozart ). Marchisio The two were also together in the world premiere of the Petite Messe Solennelle , that Rossini had expressly designed for their voices.