Cesare Bossi


Cesare Bossi was an Italian-born composer. He is most known as a composer of ballets which he wrote for the King's Theatre in Haymarket in London.

Career

Bossi was born in Ferrara in 1773.
None of the sources provide information about his training or early career. One source states that while in Italy he wrote operas as well as piano music including sonatas.
In 1795 he emigrated to London. There he became associated with the King's Theatre in Haymarket where he was a composer of ballets, a conductor, and responsible for the musical preparation of operas. "In this task there have been few who could excel him." His association with the theatre lasted from 1795-96 through the 1799-1800 season. Most of his ballets were written between 1796 and 1800. It was said that he composed with "unexampled rapidity." and that his melodies were of high quality.
He married a Mademoise del Caro, a dancer in the company. She began to be billed as "Madame Bossi" as of 6 February 1796. By 2 June 1800 the couple were living at No. 1 Great Suffolk Street.
In September 1802, the Monthly Mirror reported that Bossi had died in the King's Bench Prison "of a deep decline." The paper called him "A musical professor of eminent talents." He left his widow Del Caro and four children.

List of works

Ballets
TitleDate of first performanceChoreographerRemarks
Acis and Galatea10 June 1797Charles Didelot
Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene26 March 1801Charles Didelotco-composed with Vincenzo Federici
L’amant statue21 April 1796Giacomo Onorati
L’amour vangé2 June 1796Charles Didelot
Apollon berger27 December 1796Sébastian Gallet
Bacchus and Ariadne28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet
Barader29 May 1800James Harvey D'Egville
La chasse d'amour2 January 1798Sébastian Gallet
Cinderella or The glass slipper1803?-
Constante et Alcidonis1798Sébastian Gallet
Les délassements militaires16 January 1797Sébastian Galletco-composed with Joseph Mazzinghi
The deserter12 February 1799Sébastian Galletbased on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteur
Les deux jumelles1799James Harvey D'Egville
Flore et Zephire7 July 1796Charles Didelot
Heliska ou La fille soldat16 June 1801Charles Didelot
L’heureux retour28 March 1797Sébastian Gallet
Hylas et Témire1799James Harvey D'Egville
Irza2 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville
Les jeux d’Eglé11 January 1800James Harvey D'Egville
Jugement de Midas20 February 1802James Harvey D'Egville
Ken-Si and Tao14 May 1801Charles Didelot
Laura et Lenza8 May 1800Charles Didelot
Little Peggy's love21 April 1796Charles Didelot
Le marchand de Smyrne1799?Monsieur Barré
L’offrande a Terpsichore28 November 1797Sébastian Gallet
Pigmalion3 January 1801James Harvey D'Egville
Télémaque26 March 1799James Harvey D'Egvilleco-composed with James Harvey D'Egville
Le triomphe de Thémis1798Sébastian Gallet

Other works