Caterina Magdalena Giuseppa Cavalieri, born February 19, 1760, and died June 30, 1801 was an Austrian soprano. She was known for moving between her ranges with ease, her chest voice, and her stamina.
Die Entführung aus dem Serail is a singspiel in three acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The German libretto is by Gottlieb Stephanie, based on Christoph Friedrich Bretzner's Belmont und Constanze, oder
Caterina Cavalieri
…1781, a role specifically written for her to display her virtuosity. Similarly, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote the role of Konstanze in his Singspiel Die Entführung aus dem Serail for her, which she premiered on 16 July 1782. Mozart also rewrote "Dove sono" in Le Nozze di Figaro in 1789 to suit it more to Cavalieri's voice. Mozart…
Announcement for the premiere at the Burgtheater
Mozart around the time of composition
Mozart (at center) attended a performance of his own opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail while visiting Berlin in 1789. Franz Frankenberg performed the role of Osmin, Friedrich Ernst Wilhelm Greibe played Pedrillo.
Autograph manuscript of the beginning of the overture