Gesualdo Lanza

Gesualdo Lanza (1779–1859) was an Italian teacher of music who made his career in London.

Life

Born in Naples in 1779, he was son of Giuseppe Lanza, an Italian composer who spent many years in England, and for some time was musician to John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn. From his father Gesualdo received instruction in music, and became known in London as a singing-master. Among his pupils were Catherine Stephens (1807) and Anna Maria Tree (1812).

In 1842 Lanza started singing classes for exposition of his theories at 75 Newman Street; the fee was 15s. for twelve lessons. Later the same year he announced a series of lectures, The National School for Singing in Classes, free to the public, and on 5 December 1842 he delivered A Lecture at the Westminster Literary and Scientific Institution illustrative of his new system of Teaching Singing in Classes. He died in London on 12 March 1859.

Works

Lanza published in London in 1817 the well-regarded Elements of Singing familiarly exemplified. His other works included The Elements of Singing in the Italian and English Styles (London, 3 vols., 1809); Sunday Evening Recreations (London, 1840); Guide to System of Singing in Classes (London, 1842). He also composed a Stabat Mater, preserved in the library of the Royal College of Music, solfeggi, and songs. He collaborated on Henry Rowley Bishop's first work, Angelina.