Zenobia (Hasse)

Zenobia Hasse (1724-1783) was a German soprano renowned for her performances in operas by Johann Adolf Hasse, her husband. Born Faustina Bordoni II (also sometimes spelled Bordoni the Younger) in Venice, she was named after her famous mother, Faustina Bordoni, one of the most celebrated sopranos of the Baroque era.

Zenobia Hasse received musical training from her parents, Faustina Bordoni and composer Johann Adolf Hasse. She possessed a powerful and agile voice, highly suited to the demanding coloratura roles characteristic of her husband's operas. She made her professional debut in Dresden in 1744, rapidly establishing herself as a leading performer within the Hasse circle.

Throughout her career, Zenobia Hasse premiered numerous roles in her husband's works, including title roles in operas such as Solimano (1753), L'Olimpiade (versions in both Dresden and Vienna), and other works specifically tailored to showcase her vocal abilities. She was admired for her dramatic presence and technical skill, contributing significantly to the success of her husband's operas across Europe.

After relocating with her husband to Vienna and later Venice, she continued to perform, although her career gradually diminished as she aged and new generations of singers emerged. Zenobia Hasse's legacy rests primarily on her contributions to her husband's operatic output and her connection to the significant musical lineage of the Bordoni and Hasse families. Her performances were instrumental in establishing the popularity and enduring reputation of Hasse's operas during the mid-18th century.