Cesare Bossi

Cesare Bossi (1773—September 1802) 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.^[1]

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.^[1]

In 1795, he emigrated to London.^[2][3] 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."^[4][3] His association with the theatre lasted from 1795 to 1796 through the 1799–1800 season. Most of his ballets were written between 1796 and 1800.^[3] It was said that he composed with "unexampled rapidity", and that his melodies were of high quality.^[4]

He married a Mademoise del Caro, a dancer in the company. She began to be billed as "Madame Bossi" as of 6 February 1796.^[3] By 2 June 1800, the couple were living at No. 1 Great Suffolk Street.^[3]

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."^[3] He left his widow Del Caro and four children.^[4]

List of works

Ballets^[3]

Title	Date of first performance	Choreographer	Remarks
Acis and Galatea	10 June 1797	Charles Didelot[5]
Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene	26 March 1801	Charles Didelot[6]	co-composed with Vincenzo Federici
L’amant statue	21 April 1796	Giacomo Onorati[7]
L’amour vangé	2 June 1796	Charles Didelot[8]
Apollon berger	27 December 1796	Sébastian Gallet[9]
Bacchus and Ariadne	28 November 1797	Sébastian Gallet[10]
Barader	29 May 1800	James Harvey D'Egville[11]
La chasse d'amour	2 January 1798	Sébastian Gallet[12]
Cinderella or The glass slipper	1803?[13]
Constante et Alcidonis	1798	Sébastian Gallet[14]
Les délassements militaires	16 January 1797	Sébastian Gallet[15]	co-composed with Joseph Mazzinghi
The deserter	12 February 1799	Sébastian Gallet[16]	based on Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny's music for Le déserteur
Les deux jumelles	1799	James Harvey D'Egville[17]
Flore et Zephire	7 July 1796	Charles Didelot[18]
Heliska ou La fille soldat	16 June 1801	Charles Didelot[19]
L’heureux retour	28 March 1797	Sébastian Gallet[20]
Hylas et Témire	1799	James Harvey D'Egville[21]
Irza	2 February 1802	James Harvey D'Egville[22]
Les jeux d’Eglé	11 January 1800	James Harvey D'Egville[23]
Jugement de Midas	20 February 1802	James Harvey D'Egville[24]
Ken-Si and Tao	14 May 1801	Charles Didelot[25]
Laura et Lenza	8 May 1800	Charles Didelot[26]
Little Peggy's love	21 April 1796	Charles Didelot[27]
Le marchand de Smyrne	1799?	Monsieur Barré[28]
L’offrande a Terpsichore	28 November 1797	Sébastian Gallet[29]
Pigmalion	3 January 1801	James Harvey D'Egville[30]
Télémaque	26 March 1799	James Harvey D'Egville[31]	co-composed with James Harvey D'Egville
Le triomphe de Thémis	1798	Sébastian Gallet[32]

Other works

• Overture to Blue Beard (opera by Michael Kelly) (most vocal scores of the opera have Kelly's own overture)
• Pas de trois from La fille mal gardée (bulk of ballet composed by unidentified composer, 18 April 1799)
• Hornpipe from Barbara and Allen (ballet by James Harvey D'Egville)
• Variations, D minor, piano^[33]