19TH CENTURY OPERA SINGERS

ADELINA PATTI (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) Soprano Her voice was noticed very early and she nade her first tour in America at the age of seven years and was a huge success. Studied singing in New York under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law, and in 1859 she sang in New York in Lucia di Lammermoor. At Covent Garden theatre in London in 1861 where she sang la Sonnambula, her reputation was strengthened and in 1862 she was singing in Paris at the Théâtre Italien, where she soon became the star. She remained at Paris until 1870, being heard in London during the summer season. In Paris she sang the Italian Repertory, in London the french Repertory. After a long stay in America and London, Patti returned several times to Paris at the Opera (debut in 1874) and the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Then she resumed travels and successfully created, in London, in 1882, the Charles Lenepveu's Velléda. She also created Dolores of André Pollonais in Nice on February 22, 1897. She triumphed especially in a vast Italian repertoire that suited to her beautiful light soprano voice. His career lasted for fifty-six years.

Pauline as Orphee in 'Orphee et Eurydice" Gluck Pauline Viardot [née García] :July 18, 1821 – May 18, 1910) French mezzo-soprano ,Michelle Ferdinande Pauline García was born in Paris to the Garcías, a Spanish opera family led by her father, tenor, singing teacher, composer and impresario Manuel García . She was 13 years younger than her beautiful sister, diva Maria Malibran, In 1837, 16-year-old Pauline García gave her first concert performance in Brussels and in 1839, made her opera debut as Desdemona in Rossini's Otello in London. This proved to be the surprise of the season. Despite her flaws, she had an exquisite technique combined with an astonishing degree of passion.

CELINE ANNA VAN GHELL (1847-?) Dutch mezzo-soprano. Began her “French” career in Brussels in the role of Rothomago junior in Ennery’s theatre play “Rothomago”. After Brussels she continued her career at Paris where she performed the same role at The Châtelet in 1877. In 1869 she created at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques the role of Méphisto in Hervé’s “Le petit Faust” in which the composer himself (who was also a deserving tenor singer) created the role of Faust. In 1869 she also created the role of Prince Raphaël in the 3-act version of Offenbach’s “La Princesse de Trébizonde” at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens. She created the role of Gabrielle at the French première of Lecocq’s “Les cent vierges” (1872) and Bobeche in Offenbach’s “La foir Saint-Laurent” (1877

ADELINA PATTI (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) Soprano Her voice was noticed very early and she nade her first tour in America at the age of seven years and was a huge success. Studied singing in New York under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law, and in 1859 she sang in New York in Lucia di Lammermoor. At Covent Garden theatre in London in 1861 where she sang la Sonnambula, her reputation was strengthened and in 1862 she was singing in Paris at the Théâtre Italien, where she soon became the star. She remained at Paris until 1870, being heard in London during the summer season. In Paris she sang the Italian Repertory, in London the french Repertory. After a long stay in America and London, Patti returned several times to Paris at the Opera (debut in 1874) and the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Then she resumed travels and successfully created, in London, in 1882, the Charles Lenepveu's Velléda. She also created Dolores of André Pollonais in Nice on February 22, 1897. She triumphed especially in a vast Italian repertoire that suited to her beautiful light soprano voice. His career lasted for fifty-six years.

ADELINA PATTI (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) Soprano Her voice was noticed very early and she nade her first tour in America at the age of seven years and was a huge success. Studied singing in New York under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law, and in 1859 she sang in New York in Lucia di Lammermoor. At Covent Garden theatre in London in 1861 where she sang la Sonnambula, her reputation was strengthened and in 1862 she was singing in Paris at the Théâtre Italien, where she soon became the star. She remained at Paris until 1870, being heard in London during the summer season. In Paris she sang the Italian Repertory, in London the french Repertory. After a long stay in America and London, Patti returned several times to Paris at the Opera (debut in 1874) and the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Then she resumed travels and successfully created, in London, in 1882, the Charles Lenepveu's Velléda. She also created Dolores of André Pollonais in Nice on February 22, 1897. She triumphed especially in a vast Italian repertoire that suited to her beautiful light soprano voice. His career lasted for fifty-six years.

CHRISTINE NILSSON (, August 20, 1843 - 22 November 1921). Swedish Soprano Debut October 27, 1864, Théâtre-Lyrique. Debuted at l'Opéra de la salle Le Peletier on 09 March 1868 by creating Opehlia in HAMLET ,Sang in the premiere on 03 March 1869 Marguerite in Faust at the Palais Garnier. She sang LA LEGENDE DE SAINTE CECILE , oratorio by Benedict; ROBERT LE DIABLE (Alice). Meyerbeer

MARIE GEISTINGER Marie "Charlotte Cecilia" Geistinger (* 26 July 1836 in Graz , † 29 September 1903 in Klagenfurt ) Austrian Soprano She was educated in the main by Carl Maria Wolf in Vienna. In 1850 she made her debut as a soubrette at the Max Schwaiger-Theater in Munich. 1852 she came to the theater in the Josefstadt in Vienna. In 1854 she appeared at the Friedrich Wilhelm Municipal Theater Berlin, in 1856 at the Thalia Theatre in Hamburg. 1859-63 she worked at the Municipal Theatre of Riga, where she was active in the versatile opera, operetta and comedy. 1863 she performed in Berlin at the Victoria Theatre. 1865 came at the Vienna Strampfertheater a majestic success of the singer when she appeared there in the title role in Offenbach's 'Beautiful Helena'. Offenbach In world premieres of Johann Strauss operetta 'Indigo' (1871), 'Carnival in Rome' (1873) and 'Cagliostro in Wien' (1875). On 04.05.1874 she created at the Theater an der Wien in the premiere of 'bat' the role of Rosalinde; . She performed both as an operetta singer and as a tragedian. She came back to Europe in 1885 and now turned back to operetta. 1888,

GIOVANNI MARIO (Giovanni Matteo, marquis of CANDIA ). -Italian tenor (Cagliari, October 17, 1810 – December 11, 1883). Husband Giulia Grisi. He debuted under the name of Mario on 02 December 1838 in ROBERT LE DIABLE de Meyerbeer (Robert). He sang LE COMTE ORY Rossini. THE Draper of Halévy; THE HUGUENOTS (Raoul, 1862). "This famous tenor of the Italians, and a moment of the Opera, was the son of the Italian general marquis of Candia." When starting at the Opera that he took the name of Mario, he was both exemplified since. After a long time living with the famous singer Giulia Grisi, who died in 1869, he eventually married her, when she became the widow of her first husband. They had six children .

EMMA ALBANI (1 November 1847 – 3 April 1930) Canadian soprano (Marie Louise Cecilia Emma Lajeunesse.) Vocal studies in Europe, and she became a student of Gilbert Louis Duprez in Paris, then by Francesco Lamperti in Milan. Debut in 1870 at the Opera House of Messina as Amina in 'La Sonnambula'. Covent Garden début 1872. First Covent Garden Senta (Der fliegende Holländer), 1877. NY Met début 1891; first Desdemona at NY Met 1894. Sang Isolde, Covent Garden 1896, retiring from stage a month later, but continuing to sing in oratorio. Retired to teach in 1911. DBE 1925.

MARIETTA ALBONI (Maria Anna Marzia) ( March 6, 1823 - June 23, 1894) Italian Contralto While a student at Bologna, Alboni captured the attention of Gioacchino Rossini, who later was to instruct her in the main contralto roles in his operas. In 1842 she made her debut as Climene in Giovanni Pacini’s Saffo at Bologna, and she achieved a notable success in Rossini’s Le siège de Corinthe at La Scala in Milan. She toured Austria (1843), Russia (1844–45), and Germany and eastern Europe (1846). In 1847 Alboni made sensational English and French debuts at Covent Garden in London and the Théâtre-Italien in Paris in Rossini’s Semiramide. In 1852–53 Alboni toured Spain and the United States to great acclaim. She married, settled in Paris, sang at Rossini’s funeral in 1868, and retired because of her worsening obesity, making her final appearance in 1872

ROSINA PENCO (Elena Rosina Penco) ( 8 April 1823 - 2 November 1894 ) Italian Soprano Debut in 1847 / 48 at the Teatro Regio in Copenhagen and later in Stockholm .she sang in Dresden and Berlin in 1850, and Constantinople in 1850–51, chiefly the lyric coloratura parts of Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini and Gaetano Donizetti, Before Giuseppe Verdi wrote Leonora in Il trovatore for her (1853, Rome) Amelia in Un ballo in maschera (which she eventually sang in 1861 at Covent Garden and the Théâtre Italien, Paris). Her range included Norma, Elvira in I puritani and Paolina in Donizetti's Poliuto – She sang frequently in Madrid (to 1857), London (1859–62), Paris (most years from 1855 to 1872) and St Petersburg (to 1874).

Marie Sasse as Selika ''L'Africane" Meyerbeer CREATOR ROLE MARIE CONSTANCE SASSE . -Belgian soprano (Ghent, 26 January 1834 - 75016.Paris, November 07, 1907).Debut on 01 October 1859, at the Théâtre-Lyrique, 03 August 1860 at the Opera ROBERT LE DIABLE by Meyerbeer (Alice). She sang LA JUIVE by Halévy (Rachel); Verdi IL TROVATORE (Leonora). VESPERS Sicilian Verdi (Helene); THE Queen of Sheba by Gounod (Queen); DON JUAN de Mozart (Elvira, Donna Anna); THE HUGUENOTS (Valentine); HAMLET (Ophelia, 1872). She participated in the first 13 March 1861 Tannhäuser (Elisabeth) Wagner. She created April 28, 1865 L'AFRICAINE (Selika) of Meyerbeer; on March 11, 1867 DON CARLOS (Elisabeth de Valois) for Verdi. She left the Opera in 1872. She has sung under the names of Sax, Saxe, Sass-Castelmary and under his own name.

ESTAGEL ?????? Soprano Created Ascagne in 'Les Troyens" by Bizet 4th November 1863 at the theatre Lyric Paris

TERESA BOSCHETTI (1845-1919) Czech Soprano Studied at Pädagogen Bernhard Prague with Hans von Rokitanksy and Karl Maria Wolf in Vienna. In 1862 she was engaged at the Prague German Theatre. 1864, she went engaged as an opera singer at the Court Theatre of Wiesbaden, 1869 Vienna Court Opera, and finally to the 1872 Opera House Leipzig. There she remained until 1874 Engaged 1874-81 at the National Theatre in Prague. 27.1.1878 in the world premiere of' Der listige Bauer' ('S|velma Sedlák') von A.Dvor|vák . She later lived in Vienna. Her repertoire included Susanna in 'The Marriage of Figaro', the Zerlina in Don Giovanni, the Eurydice in 'Orpheus' by Gluck, the Annie in 'Freischütz' by Weber and Marcellina in 'Fidelio'

FROMENTAL HALEVY (Jacques-François-Fromental-Élie Halévy) (27 May 1799 – 17 March 1862), French Composer He is known today largely for his opera La Juive. His daughter Genéviève married the composer Georges Bizet, who had been one of Halévy's pupils at the Conservatoire . Halevy composed 40 operas

AMBROSE THOMAS (Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas) (5 August 1811 – 12 February 1896) French composer, Best known for his operas Mignon (1866) and Hamlet (1868, after Shakespeare) and as Director of the Conservatoire de Paris from 1871 till his death. His last opera, Françoise de Rimini (Paris Opéra, 1882 .Thomas composed 25 complete opera's

WILLIAM CASTLE (J.C.Reeves) (1836-1909) English Tenor Started in Chicago singing with several prominent minstrel organisations notably Hooley & Campbells 1861-62 and George Christy's 1862.Performing in Chicargo and Philadelphia he was an artist in the Gottschalk Instrumental and Vocal concerts in October 1862 and in November 1862 he was in "la Traviata" for the Grau Opera Company.Performed in 1863 in Carlotta Patti Farewell concert , In 1864 he was leading tenor with Harrison English Opera troupe performing in "Bohemian Girl" , "Maritana" & "Frau Diavolo" .1864 He worked on the concert platform and was a member of The Draper English Opera.

ZELIA TREBELLI - BETTINI (Gloria Caroline Gillebert) (1838-1892) French Mezzo Soprano Madame Trebelli-Bettini began to sing under the name Trebelli, which was derived from her real surname. On her marriage to the tenor Alessandro Bettini (1825-98) she added his name to hers. Her debut role was Azucena (Madrid 1859) and she continued to sing it throughout her career. In 1884 she was the first performer of Carmen at the Met. She was always a notable exponent of 'trouser' roles such as Cherubino, Siébel, Maffio Orsini (Lucrezia Borgia) and Urbain. her roles included Zerlina Don Giovanni ,Fatima Oberon ,Urbain Huguenots ,Azucena Trovatore ,Third Lady Magic Flute Cherubino Marriage of Figaro Nancy Martha ,Siébel Faust ,Carmen