VITELLI, Giovanni [WHITTLE, John] (b Spitalfields Market, London, bap 14 August 1825; d in the street, Richmond, Victoria, 20 April 1859)

This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century Victorian vocalist Madame Vitelli. John Whittle took on his Italianiate pseudonym, grew Italianate moustachios, and on 7 October 1850 launched himself in 'Signor Vitelli's Grand Musical Entertainment' at the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle Street, with Mrs Alexander Newton topping the bill. 'Madame Vitelli' had become a genuinely popular soprano all around the colonies. And one of her fellow artists was a certain Charles Thatcher. Annie became Mrs Thatcher, and they toured Australia and New Zealand for a decade. Later while Thatcher wandered the world, Annie stayed in Australasia and worked as Lydia Howarde. Lydia Thompson moved on to Newcastle, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and at Christmas 1873 played alongside Charles Lascelles and the Leopolds as 'Mirth' in the Melbourne panto Australia Felix. At her Benefit in Adelaide she played Polly in The Beggar's Opera. Elsewhere she repeated The Waterman, in Melbourne in 1878 she sang Hecate to the Macbeth of Creswick.