Jane Bathori
Encyclopedia
Jane Bathori was a French
opera
singer. Born in Paris
, France
, she was famous on the operatic stage and important in the development of contemporary French music.
Bathori originally studied piano
and planned for a career as concert pianist but soon turned to singing, making her professional debut sometime in 1898 at the small Théâtre de la Bodinière in the rue Saint-Lazare in a concert to honor the poet Paul Verlaine
. That same year, her debut in the grands concerts began when she appeared at the Concerts du Conservatoire followed by performances in Gabriel Fauré
's La Naissance de Vénus and Camille Saint-Saëns
' Messe de Requiem. During the season 1899–1900 she made her mezzo-soprano
operatic debut at Nantes
.
In the early 1900s, Bathori began studying with Pierre-Émile Engel
, whom she married in 1908. In 1917, she became the director of the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier. After the war she sang at La Scala
and in other major centres across Europe
. During the time of Les Six
in the early 1920s she played a large role in the propagation of the new music of this period especially by some of the members of the famous Les Six. On January 31, 1920 she gave the first performance of Louis Durey
's Printemps au fond de la mer. She would give the first performances of many works by other contemporary French composers.
In the 1930s she sang in the Teatro Colón
in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. During the German
occupation of France during World War II
she would make Buenos Aires her home. After her return to France she taught and coached a number of young singers, working closely with Irène Joachim
. Although age put an end to her own concert career, she occasionally appeared in public and on recordings as accompanist.
Jane Bathori died in Paris and is interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer. Born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, she was famous on the operatic stage and important in the development of contemporary French music.
Bathori originally studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and planned for a career as concert pianist but soon turned to singing, making her professional debut sometime in 1898 at the small Théâtre de la Bodinière in the rue Saint-Lazare in a concert to honor the poet Paul Verlaine
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.-Early life:...
. That same year, her debut in the grands concerts began when she appeared at the Concerts du Conservatoire followed by performances in Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
's La Naissance de Vénus and Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
' Messe de Requiem. During the season 1899–1900 she made her mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
operatic debut at Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
.
In the early 1900s, Bathori began studying with Pierre-Émile Engel
Pierre-Émile Engel
Pierre-Émile Engel was a French operatic tenor active on the stages of Brussels, Paris, Monte-Carlo and other European cities where he sang leading roles in several world premieres.-Life and career:...
, whom she married in 1908. In 1917, she became the director of the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier. After the war she sang at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
and in other major centres across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. During the time of Les Six
Les Six
Les six is a name, inspired by The Five, given in 1920 by critic Henri Collet in an article titled "" to a group of six composers working in Montparnasse whose music is often seen as a reaction against the musical style of Richard Wagner and impressionist music.-Members:Formally, the Groupe des...
in the early 1920s she played a large role in the propagation of the new music of this period especially by some of the members of the famous Les Six. On January 31, 1920 she gave the first performance of Louis Durey
Louis Durey
-Life:Louis Durey was born in Paris, the son of a local businessman. It was not until he was nineteen years old that he chose to pursue a musical career after hearing a performance of a Claude Debussy work. As a composer he was primarily self-taught. From the beginning, choral music was of great...
's Printemps au fond de la mer. She would give the first performances of many works by other contemporary French composers.
In the 1930s she sang in the Teatro Colón
Colón Theater
To Redirect to homonymous theatre in Bogotá see Teatro de Cristobal ColónThe Teatro Colón is the main opera house in Buenos Aires, Argentina, acoustically considered to be amongst the five best concert venues in the world.The present Colón replaced an original theatre which opened in 1857...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. During the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation of France during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she would make Buenos Aires her home. After her return to France she taught and coached a number of young singers, working closely with Irène Joachim
Irène Joachim
Irène Joachim, born 13 March 1913 in Paris, died 20 April 2001, also in Paris, was a French soprano, and later a vocal teacher.-Early life:Daughter of Herman Joachim and Suzanne Chaigneau, and grand-daughter of the violinist Joseph Joachim, she learnt violin and piano as a child...
. Although age put an end to her own concert career, she occasionally appeared in public and on recordings as accompanist.
Jane Bathori died in Paris and is interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse.