The Improvisation of Poetry, 1750 – 1850
A database of commentaries on improvisational performance
The anonymous critic gives a brief history of some of the best known improvisers in Italy, both men and women. He also describes some of the tricks they used to make their work appear more improvised than it was.
Lady Murray/Lady Clanwilliam describes Mazzei’s poetic improvisation on Apollo and Daphne, and compares Sestini’s performance on Helen of Troy to opera. Mazzei and Sestini perform a dialogue between Dido and Aeneas. One morning, Mazzei demonstrates her strong improvisatory abilities to guests at her house.
Jameson recounts her experience watching the improvisatore Sestini perform in Rome, describing the various subjects and forms he used, as well as the success and failure of each of Sestini’s efforts. She reflects upon Sestini’s rather plain appearance, and opines that his career will likely be short in duration, even if his skill is remarkable.
A poetic monologue by a dying improvisatore (as conceived by Hemans), based on an anecdote about the death of the improvisatore Bartolomeo Sestini.