AMADEI, Giulia [FRY, née LAMOND, Isabella Hume] (b Edinburgh, 24 November 1826; d 26 Midvale Road, St Helier, Jersey, 13 February 1864)

This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century vocalist Giulia Amadei. Madame Amadei made her first appearance on the London concert platform on 5 October 1853, at the first soiree of the winter season at Willert Beale's Réunion des Arts, 76 Harley Street, a venue which was known for giving a chance to young and aspiring artists. On this occasion, the other vocalists were the thoroughly established Georgina Weiss and Jean-Baptiste Rommi, a French baritone – 'a useful and ready man in secondary characters' – at the Italian Opera. On 12 July 1856, Madame Amadei made her operatic debut in the part of Maffeo Orsini in Lucrezia Borgia. Johanna Wagner was the Lucrezia, with Charles Braham in the role of Gennaro. In any case, neither Lumley nor Madame Amadei was prompted, it seems, to pursue the operatic experiment. Instead, she and Charles Braham visited Manchester for a Christmas Messiah with Mme Lemmens-Sherrington and Weiss.