Geltrude Righetti

Geltrude Righetti (1793–1862) was an Italian contralto closely associated with the operas of Gioachino Rossini. (Her name is also sometimes given as Giorgi-Righetti or Righetti-Giorgi, Giorgi being the name of her husband.)

Born in Bologna, she also studied and made her debut there in 1814. The following year she created the important role of Rosina in The Barber of Seville and in 1817 she was the first heroine of La Cenerentola, both in Rome. Her career was short and she retired from the stage in 1822. She died in Bologna in 1862.

In 1823, in response to an article by Stendhal, she wrote her famous memoir entitled Cenni di una donna già cantante sopra il Maestro Rossini..., which includes an account of the première of The Barber of Seville.