Vittoria Tesi

Vittoria Tesi Tramontini, also known as "La Fiorentina" or "La Moretta" (the Florentine or the Moorish or brunette girl) (13 February 1701^[1] in Florence – 9 May 1775 in Vienna) was an Italian opera singer (later singing teacher) of the 18th century. Her vocal range was that of a contralto. She is "regarded as the first eminent singer of color in the history of Western music".^[2]

^ The baptismal act (Opera di S. Maria del Fiore, Archivio delle fedi di battesimo di S. Giovanni, reg. 295, c. 84v; referred to by Francesco Lora) reads 13 February 1700 and this date is generally reported by major sources. However, it is formulated according to the Florentine calendar then in use in most Tuscany (where every new year began on 25 Mars, the day of the Incarnation), and corresponds in fact to 13 February 1701 in the Gregorian calendar-modern style (where every new year begins on 1 January). Thus it is now stated by the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani.
^ Italian: "...considerata la prima importante cantante di colore della storia della musica occidentale" (Dinko Fabris, Serenata Hasse al Sannazaro in concerto la "Cappella Neapolitana", «la Repubblica», 30 gennaio 2019).

[1] The baptismal act (Opera di S. Maria del Fiore, Archivio delle fedi di battesimo di S. Giovanni, reg. 295, c. 84v; referred to by Francesco Lora) reads 13 February 1700 and this date is generally reported by major sources. However, it is formulated according to the Florentine calendar then in use in most Tuscany (where every new year began on 25 Mars, the day of the Incarnation), and corresponds in fact to 13 February 1701 in the Gregorian calendar-modern style (where every new year begins on 1 January). Thus it is now stated by the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani.

[2] Italian: "...considerata la prima importante cantante di colore della storia della musica occidentale" (Dinko Fabris, Serenata Hasse al Sannazaro in concerto la "Cappella Neapolitana", «la Repubblica», 30 gennaio 2019).

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