Congratulations on publishing your 100th
issue of Jane Austen’s Regency World. We
appreciate being able to communicate with
other Janeites about the Jane Austen Society of
North America. You have connected those of
us who love Jane Austen and are eager to learn
about the world in which she lived. It is a great
happiness when we see a return address from
the United Kingdom and know that happy
hours lay ahead as we put the kettle on and
immerse ourselves in Regency times. I smile
to think of my friends around the world doing
the same thing. Here’s to the next 100 issues!
Liz Philosophos Cooper, President
Jane Austen Society of North AmericaI am so pleased for Tim Bullamore and his
hardworking team that they have reached
this milestone of 100 issues. Having
put together the first 34 issues, I know
how much work goes into each one. The
breadth and quality of content continues
to delight as does the production value. As
long as Jane Austen remains popular and
newsworthy (which she will), there will
be a Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine
being produced and delivered to you. Well
done, and here’s to the next 100!
David Baldock
Director,
Jane Austen Centre, BathHigh life of song
Your 1811 news summary (JARW May/June
2019, No 99) reported the death of Venanzio
Rauzzini (1746-1810), described as a castrato.
Relatives were invited to apply to a Bath law
office, where they might “hear something to
their advantage”.
Clearly, he was a man of means – and a
man of mystery. It was widely rumoured that
he was not truly a castrato at all, but rather
had an endocrine condition that prevented
his voice from breaking. This enabled him to
indulge in a number of romantic affairs as he
was thought to be “safe”. As a boy, he was a
member of the Sistine Chapel Choir. In his
unusual manhood, he achieved fame
and financial success through being asend your views and comments to [email protected]
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composer, singing teacher and impresario.
“The Great Rauzzini” settled in Bath in
1781, remaining there until his death nearly 30
years later and mounting a series of popular
subscription concerts. He was buried at
Bath Abbey. Two of his most distinguished
students, the soprano Anna Selina Storace and
the tenor John Braham, donated an elegant
tablet in his memory.
Acknowledging the bicentenary of his
death, in 2010, my daily newspaper – The
Guardian – described him as “a kind of
castrato Casanova” notorious for “sleeping his
way round Europe with rich men’s wives who
assumed the sex was risk-free”.
Cynthia Holland, Newcastle upon TyneCentenary celebrations continued