Maria Manina, later Maria Fletcher later Maria Seedo/Sydow, () was an Italian opera and concert singer. She came to notice in London in 1712 and was last recorded in Potsdam in 1736.

Life

Her place and date of birth are unknown and although her sister is known to be the very successful singer

Margherita de l'Epine Margherita is an Italian feminine given name. It also is a surname. As a word, in Italian it means " daisy". The name is related to Margaret. Given name As a name, it may refer to: * Margherita da Trento (anglicized as Margaret of Trent) compa ...

, their parents are also unknown. Her sister, Margherita, began her career in 1703 and it is thought that Maria was working in the same company at the Queen's Theatre, Haymarket for some time before she was named. In 1712 she was first named when she sang in

John Hughes John Hughes may refer to: Arts and Entertainment Literature *John Hughes (poet) (1677–1720), English poet *John Hughes (1790–1857), English author *John Ceiriog Hughes (1832–1887), Welsh poet *John Hughes (writer) (born 1961), Australian au ...

' ''Calypso and Telemachus'' on 17 May 1712. She had been reputably paid £100 to sing the role by

Heidegger Martin Heidegger (; 26 September 1889 – 26 May 1976) was a German philosopher known for contributions to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. His work covers a range of topics including metaphysics, art, and language. In April ...

. She appeared as Eucharis singing, ''Gay, Young, and Fair''. In 1713 confusion arose after she appeared as Clitia in

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

's ''Teseo,'' being named as 'La Sorella della Sig. Margarita'.

Charles Burney Charles Burney (7 April 1726 – 12 April 1814) was an English music historian, composer and musician. He was the father of the writers Frances Burney and Sarah Burney, of the explorer James Burney, and of Charles Burney, a classicis ...

confused her with

Maria Gallia Maria Gallia (incorrectly called Maria Margherita by Burney), was an Italian born British soprano. Life Gallia was described by Burney as the sister of Margherita de l'Epine. L'Epine did have a sister called Maria Manina, Maria (Manina) but she di ...

and he recorded that Gallia sang the role and that Gallin was L'Epine's sister. This mistake has been repeated elsewhere. Manina continued to get smaller roles at the Queen's Theatre until 1715 when she appeared elsewhere. She sang at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre on 6 October 1715 and on 2 January 1717 she was given the title role of

Giovanni Bononcini Giovanni Bononcini (or Buononcini) (18 July 1670 – 9 July 1747) (sometimes cited also as Giovanni Battista Bononcini) was an Italian Baroque composer, cellist, singer and teacher, one of a family of string players and composers. He was a rival ...

's '' Camilla'' which was presented in English. She was working until 1721 when a benefit concert took place. Nothing is heard of her until 1726 when her role as Camilla is revived and it went for 20 more performances at the Lincoln's Inn Fields. She appeared in male parts in

Johann Christoph Pepusch Johann Christoph Pepusch (; 1667 1752), also known as John Christopher Pepusch () and Dr Pepusch, was a German-born composer who spent most of his working life in England. He was born in Berlin, son of a vicar, and was married to Margherita de ...

’s "Venus and Adonis" and "Myrtillo" in 1730 and in pantomime afterpieces there in 1731. The following year she sang Charles John Frederick Lampe’s "Britannia" at the New Haymarket. She was at that theatre until 1732 although she had changed her name to Sydow or Seedo due to her marriage in 1727 to

Seedo Seedo (also Sidow) (c. 1700 – c. 1754), also called Mr Seedo, as his forename is unknown, was a German composer who worked primarily in England until 1736 when he became musical director to Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia. Life Seedo was a son ...

. In May 1736 she is last mentioned where she was in Potsdam in Prussia. Her husband had been appointed as the musical director for Friedrich Wilhelm I. When her husband had been put forward for the job it had been recorded that his wife could sing well.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manina, Maria 18th-century Italian women opera singers Italian operatic sopranos