Léontine de Maësen (15 July 1835 – 1906)[1] was a Belgian coloratura soprano active on the opera stages of France from 1858 to 1868. She is most remembered today for having created the role of Leïla in Bizet's 1863 opera, Les pêcheurs de perles.
Born Léontine Van der Maësen d'Avionpuits in Esneux, Belgium, she was the daughter of the crown prosecutor in Verviers. Her father died when she was still a young girl, and after his death she entered the Royal Conservatory of Liège where she studied singing with Théophile Vercken. She then continued her studies at the Paris Conservatory with Laure Cinti-Damoreau and later with Gilbert Duprez. De Maësen made her stage debut in Marseille during the 1858 season and subsequently sang there as Marguerite in Faust and Lucie in Lucie de Lammermoor.[2] She returned in the 1861-62 season and sang with great success the title role in Massé's La reine Topaze for its first Marseille performance.[3] During that season, she also sang in revivals of The Marriage of Figaro and Der Freischütz. After performances in Lille, she was engaged by Léon Carvalho for his Théâtre Lyrique company in Paris, where in 1863 she created the role of Leïla in Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles. Her performance in the premiere was a sensation with the audience, according to the critic in Le Guide musical, who went on to praise "the beauty of her voice, the perfection of her singing, her personal charm, and her talent as actress."[4] Bizet would later dedicate his 1868 mélodie, "Rêve de la bien-aimée" (Dream of the beloved), to her.[5]
After Les pêcheurs de perles, she remained with the Théâtre Lyrique company, creating the roles of Christel in Edmond Chérouvrier's Le roi des mines and Anita in Poniatowski's L'aventurier (both in 1865) as well as singing Gilda in Rigoletto, Norina in Don Pasquale, and the title role in Norma. In the late 1860s she married Alfred Rabaud, a wealthy businessman and patron of the arts from Marseille, and retired from the stage. With her husband she ran a salon frequented by many young composers of the day and devoted herself to charity in her later years. Alfred Rabaud died in 1886. Léontine lived on for another 20 years, dying in Marseille at the age of 70. Her younger sister Camilla was also a well-known soprano who sang in Belgium, France and Italy.[6]
Notes and references
^Heugel (11 February 1906) p. 48. Note that Casaglia (2005) gives her birth date as 18 July.
^Heugel (11 February 1906) p. 48; Soubies (1900) p. 20
^Ruelle (8 October 1863) p.3. Original French: "Mlle. Léontine de Maësen ha fait sensation par la beauté de sa voix, la perfection de son chœur, la charme doux de sa personne, e son talent de comédienne."
^Masson and Barré (1913) p. 412; Heugel (11 February 1906) p. 48
Sources
Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "Maësen". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
Heugel, Henri (11 February 1906). "Nécrologie", Le Ménestrel, Vol. 72, No. 6, p. 48 (in French)
Le Guide musical (13 February 1862). "Belgique", Vol. 7, No. 50, p. 2 (in French)
Masson, Paul and Barré, Henri (1913). "Rabaud (Alfred)", Les Bouches-du-Rhône: Encyclopédie départementale, Part 2, Vol. 11, p. 412. Archives départementales les Bouches-du-Rhône (in French)
Ruelle, Jules (8 October 1863). "France", Le Guide musical, Vol. 9, No. 41, p. 3 (in French)
Soubies, Albert (1900). Histoire de la musique. E. Fammarion (in French)
May 01, 2023
léontine, maësen, july, 1835, 1906, belgian, coloratura, soprano, active, opera, stages, france, from, 1858, 1868, most, remembered, today, having, created, role, leïla, bizet, 1863, opera, pêcheurs, perles, costume, likely, pêcheurs, perles, photographed, dis. Leontine de Maesen 15 July 1835 1906 1 was a Belgian coloratura soprano active on the opera stages of France from 1858 to 1868 She is most remembered today for having created the role of Leila in Bizet s 1863 opera Les pecheurs de perles Leontine de Maesen in costume likely for Les pecheurs de perles photographed by Disderi circa 1863 Life and career EditBorn Leontine Van der Maesen d Avionpuits in Esneux Belgium she was the daughter of the crown prosecutor in Verviers Her father died when she was still a young girl and after his death she entered the Royal Conservatory of Liege where she studied singing with Theophile Vercken She then continued her studies at the Paris Conservatory with Laure Cinti Damoreau and later with Gilbert Duprez De Maesen made her stage debut in Marseille during the 1858 season and subsequently sang there as Marguerite in Faust and Lucie in Lucie de Lammermoor 2 She returned in the 1861 62 season and sang with great success the title role in Masse s La reine Topaze for its first Marseille performance 3 During that season she also sang in revivals of The Marriage of Figaro and Der Freischutz After performances in Lille she was engaged by Leon Carvalho for his Theatre Lyrique company in Paris where in 1863 she created the role of Leila in Bizet s Les pecheurs de perles Her performance in the premiere was a sensation with the audience according to the critic in Le Guide musical who went on to praise the beauty of her voice the perfection of her singing her personal charm and her talent as actress 4 Bizet would later dedicate his 1868 melodie Reve de la bien aimee Dream of the beloved to her 5 After Les pecheurs de perles she remained with the Theatre Lyrique company creating the roles of Christel in Edmond Cherouvrier s Le roi des mines and Anita in Poniatowski s L aventurier both in 1865 as well as singing Gilda in Rigoletto Norina in Don Pasquale and the title role in Norma In the late 1860s she married Alfred Rabaud a wealthy businessman and patron of the arts from Marseille and retired from the stage With her husband she ran a salon frequented by many young composers of the day and devoted herself to charity in her later years Alfred Rabaud died in 1886 Leontine lived on for another 20 years dying in Marseille at the age of 70 Her younger sister Camilla was also a well known soprano who sang in Belgium France and Italy 6 Notes and references Edit Heugel 11 February 1906 p 48 Note that Casaglia 2005 gives her birth date as 18 July Heugel 11 February 1906 p 48 Soubies 1900 p 20 Le Guide musical 13 February 1862 p 2 Ruelle 8 October 1863 p 3 Original French Mlle Leontine de Maesen ha fait sensation par la beaute de sa voix la perfection de son chœur la charme doux de sa personne e son talent de comedienne Score of Bizet s Reve de la bien aimee A Madame Rabaud nee de Maesen at the International Music Score Library Project Masson and Barre 1913 p 412 Heugel 11 February 1906 p 48Sources EditCasaglia Gherardo 2005 Maesen L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Heugel Henri 11 February 1906 Necrologie Le Menestrel Vol 72 No 6 p 48 in French Le Guide musical 13 February 1862 Belgique Vol 7 No 50 p 2 in French Masson Paul and Barre Henri 1913 Rabaud Alfred Les Bouches du Rhone Encyclopedie departementale Part 2 Vol 11 p 412 Archives departementales les Bouches du Rhone in French Ruelle Jules 8 October 1863 France Le Guide musical Vol 9 No 41 p 3 in French Soubies Albert 1900 Histoire de la musique E Fammarion in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leontine de Maesen amp oldid 1145099925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
