Zanetta Farussi
Encyclopedia
Zanetta Farussi, or Maria Giovanna Farussi (Venice
27 August 1707 – Dresden
29 November 1776), was an Italian actress, opera singer and composer
. She was the mother of Giacomo Casanova
.
Fanussi was the daughter of a shoe maker and married on 27 February 1724 to the actor Gaetano Casanova. The marriage was conducted against the will of her parents, who were afraid that she would join her spouse's profession, which she also did. After her debut at Teatro San Samuele
in Venice, she performed in 1726-1728 at Kings Theatre in London
, where she made a success. King George II of Great Britain
was rumoured to have been the father of her son Franscisco (born 1727) - it is unknown whether this was true, or whether the rumour was encouraged for publicity's sake. She was again active at Teatro San Samuele upon her return to Venice. Carlo Goldoni
wrote the play La pupilla for her. She was active at the Italian theatre at the Russian Imperial court in 1735, and at the Italian court theatre in Dresden
in 1737, where she was followed by two of her children; Maria Magdalena and Giovanni. Maria Magdalena was to marry the court organist Peter August, and Giovanni became a teacher of painting at the arts academy. On 6 November 1748, her own composition was performed in Warsaw
. She retired with a pension to Prague in 1756, where she remained during the Seven year's war. She returned to Dresden after the war.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
27 August 1707 – Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
29 November 1776), was an Italian actress, opera singer and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. She was the mother of Giacomo Casanova
Giacomo Casanova
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt was an Italian adventurer and author from the Republic of Venice. His autobiography, Histoire de ma vie , is regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century...
.
Fanussi was the daughter of a shoe maker and married on 27 February 1724 to the actor Gaetano Casanova. The marriage was conducted against the will of her parents, who were afraid that she would join her spouse's profession, which she also did. After her debut at Teatro San Samuele
Teatro San Samuele
Teatro San Samuele was an opera house and theatre located at the Rio del Duca, between Campo San Samuele and Campo Santo Stefano, in Venice. One of several important theatres built in that city by the Grimani family, the theatre opened in 1656 and operated continuously until a fire destroyed the...
in Venice, she performed in 1726-1728 at Kings Theatre in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she made a success. King George II of Great Britain
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
was rumoured to have been the father of her son Franscisco (born 1727) - it is unknown whether this was true, or whether the rumour was encouraged for publicity's sake. She was again active at Teatro San Samuele upon her return to Venice. Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty...
wrote the play La pupilla for her. She was active at the Italian theatre at the Russian Imperial court in 1735, and at the Italian court theatre in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
in 1737, where she was followed by two of her children; Maria Magdalena and Giovanni. Maria Magdalena was to marry the court organist Peter August, and Giovanni became a teacher of painting at the arts academy. On 6 November 1748, her own composition was performed in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. She retired with a pension to Prague in 1756, where she remained during the Seven year's war. She returned to Dresden after the war.