She is remembered today largely for the circumstances surrounding her performance of the lead soprano role in Gaetano Donizetti's first staged opera, Enrico di Borgogna, in 1818.
[7] At the time of her engagement to sing Enrico di Borgogna, she was known only as a singer of accademie, or chamber music recitals; consequently, her performance in Donizetti's opera was to be her stage debut.
[2] Catalani's indisposition was noted by the critic of the Nuovo Osservatore Veneziano, who spoke of the way the work was "maltreated" by its cast but gave favorable considerations to Donizetti's talent.
[4] Catalani had a secondary career performing in many theaters;[1] she is known to have sung in Odessa as a member of Luigi Buonavoglia's company,[6] and appeared in Saint Petersburg as well.
[9] In 1828 she made her debut at the Théâtre Italien as Isabella in Gioacchino Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri, a performance which met with less-than-favorable reception.