Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Marietta Alboni (March 6, 1826 June 23, 1894) was a renowned Italian contralto opera singer. Together with the charismatic Maria Malibran, she was considered the greatest deeper-voiced female singer of the nineteenth century.Albani was born at Città di Castello, in Umbria. She became a pupil of Antonio Bagioli of Cesena, Emilia Romagna, and later of the composer Gioachino Rossini. At the young age of 15, she made her operatic début the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, as Orsini in Lucrezia Borgia, and her success led to an engagement at La Scala, Milan. In 1846/47, she sang in all the principal cities of Europe. While in London, she appeared at the Covent Garden, in rivalry with the soprano Jenny Lind, who was starring at Her Majesty's Theatre. She toured the United States in 1852/53, appearing there with Camilla Urso.