Suzette Defoye
Encyclopedia
Suzette Defoye née
Marie-Suzanne-Joséphe Artus Truyart (Lille
17 July 1741 - Floruit
1787), was a French ballet dancer, stage actor, opera singer and theatre director, active in France
, Belgium
and Russia
.
in the 1759-60 season before her debut as first singer in Brussels
in 1766 as Zerbine in Baurans and Pergolesi's La Servante maîtresse. On June 30, 1766, she was one of fifteen actors granted exclusive right by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
to perform in Brussels, known as the Ordinary Actors to H.R.H. Prince Charles of Lorraine
, governor of the Austrian Netherlands. The troupe was an artistic success but not economically successful. When Suzette, against her the will of her colleagues, wanted to resign as co-director in 1768, a conflict broke out, which was not solved until two co-directors granted her an annuity in 1772. In 1773, she left Brussels.
She joined the troupe of Mme Destouches-Lobreau in Lyon
the 1773-74 season, and then left for Russia, where she performed in the imperial troupe in Saint Petersburg
and Moscow
. When the French troupe left Russia in 1779, she stayed, and performed at several concerts of church music for Lent organized by the violin
ist Louis-Henri Paisible. In 1781, she returned to France, where she performed in Lille, and then to Belgium, where she performed in the theatre of Ghent
in 1782-85 and then in Liège
. In 1787, she was the director of the theatre of Béthune
, and the Baron
d'Hinge, the Grand Bailiff
of Béthune, requested that she be granted the exclusive right to perform in Amiens
.
She married the bassoon
ist François-René-Marie Defoye before 1766, but on November 19, 1771, she had her husband interned at the Alexian monastery
in Brussels, for "a clear case of madness", where he remained until his death in 1800. She moved in with her lover Nicolas Guilleminot-Dugué, an actor who had arrived in Brussels in 1769 and a member of the troupe since 1771; their relationship lasted until 1779.
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Marie-Suzanne-Joséphe Artus Truyart (Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
17 July 1741 - Floruit
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1787), was a French ballet dancer, stage actor, opera singer and theatre director, active in 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...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Biography
Suzette Artus was born the child of the musician Pierre-Jérôme Artus Truyart and the actress Marie Bienfait and debuted as a dancer the Desgraviers troupe in MetzMetz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
in the 1759-60 season before her debut as first singer in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1766 as Zerbine in Baurans and Pergolesi's La Servante maîtresse. On June 30, 1766, she was one of fifteen actors granted exclusive right by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
to perform in Brussels, known as the Ordinary Actors to H.R.H. Prince Charles of Lorraine
Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine
Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine was a Lorraine-born Austrian soldier.-Background:Charles was the son of Leopold Joseph, Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans...
, governor of the Austrian Netherlands. The troupe was an artistic success but not economically successful. When Suzette, against her the will of her colleagues, wanted to resign as co-director in 1768, a conflict broke out, which was not solved until two co-directors granted her an annuity in 1772. In 1773, she left Brussels.
She joined the troupe of Mme Destouches-Lobreau in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
the 1773-74 season, and then left for Russia, where she performed in the imperial troupe in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. When the French troupe left Russia in 1779, she stayed, and performed at several concerts of church music for Lent organized by the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Louis-Henri Paisible. In 1781, she returned to France, where she performed in Lille, and then to Belgium, where she performed in the theatre of Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
in 1782-85 and then in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
. In 1787, she was the director of the theatre of Béthune
Béthune
Béthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
, and the Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
d'Hinge, the Grand Bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
of Béthune, requested that she be granted the exclusive right to perform in Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
.
She married the bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
ist François-René-Marie Defoye before 1766, but on November 19, 1771, she had her husband interned at the Alexian monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Brussels, for "a clear case of madness", where he remained until his death in 1800. She moved in with her lover Nicolas Guilleminot-Dugué, an actor who had arrived in Brussels in 1769 and a member of the troupe since 1771; their relationship lasted until 1779.