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Adelina Patti, Wind Street, Swansea 1897

Adelina Patti was an Italian opera singer who was one of the most famous soprano’s in history. She was born in Madrid, Spain on 10th February 1843 Her parents were Salvatore Patti and the soprano Caterina Borilli and she was born while they were on tour performing in Madrid. The family moved to the Bronx in New York where she grew up and was taught to sing. At the age of 16 she made her first depute in the title role of Donizetti’s ‘Lucia de Lammermoor, at the Academy New York. Adelina toured the world performing in front of packed theatres and opera houses. She was invited to sing before the president of the United States of America and also for the King and the Royal Family in Great Britain. At the age of 18 she sang in Covent Garden and bought a house and set up residence in Clapham, London. Critically acclaimed all over the world and extremely wealthy she purchased Craig-y-Nos, Castle Nr Abercraf, Swansea Valley in 1878 and this became her main residential home. Adelina was invited to open the new Grand Theatre in Swansea and on 26th July she arrived in Swansea’s Wind Street. Huge admiring crowds lined the pavements greeting her all through the town to the Grand Theatre. Adelina Patti had a great deal of affection for the people of Swansea, donated and moved her pavilion from the grounds of her castle to Swansea’s Victoria Park where it still stands today.