Baroni, Leonora
Baroni, Leonora
Baroni, Leonora, greatly esteemed Italian singer, lutenist, and viola da gambist, known as L’Andrianella and L’Adrianetta, daughter of Andreana Basile; b. Mantua, Dec. 1611; d. Rome, April 6, 1670. She studied music with her mother at the Gonzaga court in Mantua, where she first attracted attention for her vocal gifts. At age 16, she garnered accolades for her performances in salons throughout Naples. In 1630 she appeared in Genoa, and then in Florence. In 1633 she went to Rome, where she secured her reputation as a brilliant vocal artist in aristocratic circles. Following a sojourn at the French court in Paris (1644–45), she returned to Rome and pursued her career. Her sister, Catarina Baroni (b. Mantua, after 1620; place and date of death unknown), was a singer, harpist, and poet.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire