Maria Caterina Rosalbina Caradori-Allan

Maria Caterina Rosalbina Caradori-Allan (née de Munck; 1800–1865), known as Signora Rosalbina Caradori during her career, was a French operatic soprano.

Early life Caradori was born at the Casa Palatina, Milan, in 1800. Her father, Baron de Munck, was an Alsatian who served in the French army, while her mother Elizabeth Christina, whose maiden name was Caradori, was a native of either Saint Petersburg or Italy. In May 1822 Caradori performed her own concert at the King's Theatre alongside Violante Camporese and Rebecca Isaacs (who was known as 'Zuchelli').

Early career, marriage, and motherhood In 1823 Caradori was re-engaged, at a salary of £400, and appeared as Vitellia in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito (after the two preferred singers were unable to perform) and as Carlotta in Saverio Mercadante's Elisa e Claudio in April that year. After the operatic season Caradori-Allan performed in Manchester with Maria Malibran, where reviewers praised her pronunciation of English lyrics. After the operatic season Caradori-Allan worked the concert circuit, including performing at the Philharmonic Society's Concert of Ancient Music for the first time; she would continue to sing at this event for the next 20 years.

Caradori-Allan sang the soprano solo at the British première of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 on 21 March 1825 and in the same year took part in performances in York and Gloucester. In 1827 she performed at the Leicester and Worcester festivals. In 1834 she sang in the Handel festival in Westminster Abbey, and in 1836 performed at the Winchester festival with Maria Malibran. During the Winchester performance Malibran collapsed and died nine days later.

Caradori-Allan retired in 1848 following the end of season Concert of Ancient Music on 14 June, although she put in one final appearance on the platform, for the Crystal Palace concert which opened The Great Exhibition on 1 May 1851. She died at Elm Lodge, Surbiton, on 15 October 1865.

Legacy Throughout her life, Caradori-Allan enjoyed popularity. Musically, she was accomplished, being a sight reader and a composer of songs for solo and ensemble voices. Her singing was remarkable for finish than for force; her voice was characterized as pure, sweet, clear, silvery, and flexible. However, it was said of her that "she always delighted, but never surprised" her audiences. As an actress she was charming.