What does Beyoncé have in common with Vittoria Tesi, the Black opera diva of eighteenth-century Italy? This question takes centre stage in a lecture recital celebrating Black History Month, led by researcher Emmanuela Wroth and singer Carol Leeming, with Nigel Yandell on keyboard.
Vittoria Tesi, though little known today, was one of the most celebrated divas of her time. Famed for her unusually broad vocal range, she could take on both male and female roles, using the stage to play with notions of gender and race in ways that were groundbreaking for her era.
The event interweaves Tesi’s remarkable story with those of other Black divas across the centuries, highlighting how their artistry shaped cultural narratives and challenged conventions. Through performance and storytelling, history is brought vividly back to life.
At the heart of the recital is a performance of the aria “Pur ch’io possa a te” from Johann Adolf Hasse’s 1725 opera Antony and Cleopatra. Written especially for Tesi, the piece saw her take on the cross-dressing role of Antony, opposite the famed castrato Farinelli as Cleopatra.
The programme also features Carol Leeming’s powerful poem “Praise Song for Black Divas”, a tribute to the legacies of these extraordinary artists whose contributions continue to resonate today.
The event concludes with an open conversation and Q&A, offering audiences the chance to engage directly with the speakers and performers in reflecting on artistry, identity and legacy across the centuries.
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