Angelica Catalani as Semiramis in the opera "La morte di Semiramide". Coloured engraving, 1818.

The opera is 'La morte di Semiramide' by Marco Portogallo (Marcos Antônio da Fonseca, Marcos Antônio Portugal) in which Catalani had sung the title role in London at the King's Theatre, Haymarket, on 13 December 1806 (British Museum online catalogue). She remained in Great Britain until 1813 and returned ca. 1818. Catalani's husband and manager Paul de Valabrègue calls out to her from the wings "Ma femme, ma femme, n'oublie pas la roulade" (wife, wife, don't forget the trill). The members of the audience who occupy free seats are ecstatic at the performanace, while those in paid seats are bored