Marianna Barbieri-Nini

She was also successful in the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, notably creating roles in the world premieres of three of his works.

Born in Florence, Barbieri-Nini studied singing with Luigi Barbieri, Giuditta Pasta, and Nicola Vaccai.

In 1840 she made her professional opera debut at La Scala as Antonina in Donizetti's Belisario; a performance which was negatively received.

She had her first success the following year in the title role of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence.

Her first marriage was to Count Nini of Siena, and after his death she married the Viennese pianist Leopold Hackensöllner.