Marguérite Chapuy
Encyclopedia
Marguérite Chapuy was a French
operatic soprano
, born 1850, the daughter of a former dancer at the Opéra, whose short professional career was concentrated on Paris
but included appearances in London; she created several roles at the Opéra Comique
.
of 1870 she moved to Brussels, where she continued her vocal studies, followed by stage appearances in Rennes
.
In 1872 Chapuy sang Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Haydée
by Auber at the Opéra Comique. She created the role of Philomène in Le roi l’a dit by Delibes on 24 May 1873. In March 1874 she sang Mignon.
She was invited by Mapleson
to sing in London, where her repertoire included Zerlina, Susanna, Rosina and Lucia.
She sang Rose Friquet in the 100th performance of Les dragons de Villars
on 17 May 1874, and Jeanette in the 500th performance of Les noces de Jeannette
on 18 January 1875 at the Salle Favart.
Most notably Chapuy was the first Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen
on 3 March 1875.
After the initial run of Carmen, Chapuy sang Rosina in The Barber of Seville
in July 1875 at the Drury Lane Theatre
, London. Later that year she sang Rose de mai in the revival of Le val d'Andorre
by Halévy on 14 October, and Késie in Le calife de Bagdad
on 18 December in honour of the Boieldieu centenary.
In the premiere of Henri Maréchal's opéra-comique Les Amoureux de Catherine on 8 May 1876 Chapuy sang Catherine. She then sang Baucis in the first performance of the 2-act version Gounod's of Philémon et Baucis
(16 May 1876).
From 1874 to 1876 Chapuy sang the solo soprano part in the annual performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony given at the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
.
In 1876 she married Louis Joseph Nicolas André (born 1838) of the 34th artillery regiment at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Paris, and shortly after retired from the stage.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
operatic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, born 1850, the daughter of a former dancer at the Opéra, whose short professional career was concentrated on 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...
but included appearances in London; she created several roles at the Opéra Comique
Opera Comique
The Opera Comique was a 19th-century theatre constructed in Westminster, London, between Wych Street and Holywell Street with entrances on the East Strand. It opened in 1870 and was demolished in 1902, to make way for the construction of the Aldwych and Kingsway...
.
Life and career
As a pupil of Régnier, she first considered an acting career, however after a disappointing debut at the Vaudeville theatre she inclined towards the lyric theatre. She undertook lessons with Arnoldi (her first teacher having been Belloni), and during the Franco-Prussian warFranco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870 she moved to Brussels, where she continued her vocal studies, followed by stage appearances in Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
.
In 1872 Chapuy sang Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Haydée
Haydée
Haydée, ou Le secret is an opéra comique by the French composer Daniel Auber, first performed at the Théâtre Royal de l'Opéra-Comique, Paris on 28 December 1847...
by Auber at the Opéra Comique. She created the role of Philomène in Le roi l’a dit by Delibes on 24 May 1873. In March 1874 she sang Mignon.
She was invited by Mapleson
James Henry Mapleson
James Henry Mapleson was an English opera impresario, probably the leading figure instrumental in the development of opera production, and of the careers of singers, in London and New York City in the second half of the 19th century.-Life and career:Mapleson was born in London, England...
to sing in London, where her repertoire included Zerlina, Susanna, Rosina and Lucia.
She sang Rose Friquet in the 100th performance of Les dragons de Villars
Les dragons de Villars
Les dragons de Villars is an opéra-comique in three acts by Aimé Maillart to a libretto by Eugène Cormon and Joseph-Philippe Lockroy.-Performance history:...
on 17 May 1874, and Jeanette in the 500th performance of Les noces de Jeannette
Les noces de Jeannette
Les Noces de Jeannette is an opéra comique in one act by Victor Massé to a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré...
on 18 January 1875 at the Salle Favart.
Most notably Chapuy was the first Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
on 3 March 1875.
After the initial run of Carmen, Chapuy sang Rosina in The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's comedy Le Barbier de Séville , which was originally an opéra comique, or a mixture of spoken play with music...
in July 1875 at the Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
, London. Later that year she sang Rose de mai in the revival of Le val d'Andorre
Le val d'Andorre
Le val d'Andorre is an opéra comique by Fromental Halévy with a libretto by Saint-Georges.-Early productions:The opera was premiered on 11 November 1848 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris...
by Halévy on 14 October, and Késie in Le calife de Bagdad
Le calife de Bagdad
Le calife de Bagdad is an opera comique in one act by the French composer François-Adrien Boieldieu with a libretto by Claude de Saint-Just . It was first performed at the Opéra-Comique, Paris on 16 September 1800 and soon became highly popular throughout Europe. It was Boieldieu's first major...
on 18 December in honour of the Boieldieu centenary.
In the premiere of Henri Maréchal's opéra-comique Les Amoureux de Catherine on 8 May 1876 Chapuy sang Catherine. She then sang Baucis in the first performance of the 2-act version Gounod's of Philémon et Baucis
Philémon et Baucis
Philémon et Baucis is an opera in three acts by Charles Gounod with a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. The opera is based on the tale of Baucis and Philemon as told by La Fontaine...
(16 May 1876).
From 1874 to 1876 Chapuy sang the solo soprano part in the annual performances of Beethoven's 9th Symphony given at the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
The Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire was a symphony orchestra established in Paris in 1828. It gave its first concert on 9 March 1828 with music by Beethoven, Rossini, Meifreid, Rode and Cherubini....
.
In 1876 she married Louis Joseph Nicolas André (born 1838) of the 34th artillery regiment at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Paris, and shortly after retired from the stage.