Members of SI PT enjoyed a very interesting yet spooky tour of Madame Patti’s home at Craig-y-Nos Castle, a Victorian-Gothic country house, near Swansea in South Wales. Madame Adeline Patti (1843-1919) was a renowned Italian opera singer, celebrated as one of the greatest coloratura sopranos of the 19th Century. Although she was born in Madrid, she moved at the age of three to America and made her operatic debut in New York City at the age of 16.
In 1861 Patti debuted in London’s Covent Garden as Amina in Bellini’s La sonnambula. Her pure agile voice and impeccable technique was sensational and lead to her 23-year association with the venue.
Beyond her vocal prowess, Pattie was known for her strong business acumen, commanding substantial fees for her performances. She invested wisely and gained financial stability throughout her career. In 1878 she purchased Crag-Y-Nos Castle in Wales where she resided for the remainder of her life. Patti’s legacy endures through various tributes, including the Patti Pavillion in Swansea, originally a winter garden at Craig-Y-Nos, which she gifted to the city in 1918.
Following the wonderful tour of Craig-Y-Nos members travelled to the Abercrave Inn for a delicious lunch and chat.
