A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Gabrielli, Catharine
GABRIELLI, CATHARINE,
One of the most celebrated singers of the eighteenth century was born at Rome in 1730. As soon as her great talent was discovered, (by accident,) she received instructions from Garcia (la Spagnaletto) and Porpora. In the year 1747, she sang at the theatre of Lucca, where she was generally admired. Francis the First called her subsequently to Vienna. Metastasio gave her the last finish, especially with regard to the recitative. The operas of this poet gained more celebrity by her than by any other musician. An anecdote is told concerning the extreme capriciousness of this lady. The viceroy of Sicily invited her one day to dine with him and the highest nobility of Palermo. When she did not make her appearance at the appointed hour, he sent a messenger to inform her that she was expected by the party. She was found reading on her sofa, and pretended to have entirely forgotten the invitation. The viceroy seemed inclined to forgive this impoliteness; but when, during the' opera, she acted her part with the utmost negligence, and sang all her airs sotto voce, he threatened her with punishment; yet his displeasure seemed to have no other effect but to render her still more stubborn; she declared that she might be forced to scream, but not to sing. She was committed to prison for twelve days; during this time she gave costly entertainments, paid all the debts of the prisoners, and, with great charity, spent large sums of money among them. The viceroy being obliged to yield, she was released amidst the shoutings of the poor. When offered an engagement at the theatre of London, she said, "I should not be mistress of my own will; whenever I should have a fancy not to sing, the people would insult, perhaps misuse me; better is it to remain unmolested, were it even in a prison."
Many other eccentric acts of this wilful lady are recorded. She retired from the stage in 1780, and died in 1796.