on june 4, 1800, shortly before the victory at marengo, while interpreting andreozzi’s "la vergine del sole" at la scala, milan, grassini (who was, by this time, already well known for her unruly love affairs) made a strong hit with napoleon bonaparte. he enrolled her among his lovers and brought her to paris, where she sang in several concerts. grassini’s relationship with the first consul was probably not convenient, but it was a sign of her modern, free attitude, so that when she in turn took a liking to the violinist pierre rode, she did not hesitate to embark upon a fresh affair with him (practically under the nose of the future emperor), and to quit paris for an 1801 concert tour in the netherlands and germany, returning finally to italy.