TORRIANI, Ostava [TORNQUIST, ? Sophia Ostava] (b Hamburg, c 1845; d Milan, c 1916)

This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century Victorian vocalist Ostava Torriani. Ostava Torriani was an Fräulein, professedly from Germany, allegedly from Hamburg, though someone once said Austria, and her veritable surname, like that of her Swedish family, was Tornquist. In 1873, Ostava Torriani made her British debut, and venue for that debut was the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. On Tuesday Lucia was performed and it served to introduce a new singer, Mdlle Ostava Torriani, who appeared as Lucia. On 6 October, Ostava Torriani made her first American appearance slightly earlier than intended, replacing the star in Lucia di Lammermoor. New York turned out to be nothing like London, where Ostava had played just twice in the season. Here she was busy with three Bs. Mignon was next production, with Ostava cast as Filina to Mignon of Nilsson and Frederic of Cary, then it was Ernani, with Torriani, Campanini and Maurel.