Eugénie "Ninon" Vallin (8 September 1886[1] – 22 November 1961) was a French soprano who achieved considerable popularity in opera, operetta and classical song recitals during an international career that lasted for more than four decades.
Eugénie Vallin was born at Montalieu-Vercieu, a small town about 30 miles east of Lyon. She studied at the Lyon Conservatoire and later in Paris. At first she had no intention of performing opera, preparing herself for a career on the concert platform. In 1911 she was chosen by Claude Debussy to sing the part of the celestial voice in the first performance of his Le martyre de Saint Sébastien. She continued her association with Debussy, giving the première of his Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé in 1914 at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, accompanied by the composer. She also worked extensively with other contemporary composers, including Albert Roussel, Joaquín Nin-Culmell, and Reynaldo Hahn; the latter two accompanied her in recordings of their own works.
She was first persuaded to sing opera in 1912, appearing in a number of roles at the Opéra-Comique, including Micaëla (in Carmen), Mimì (in La bohème), Clara in Les cadeaux de Noël, and the title role in Louise. She went on to make her début at the Teatro Colón, as Marguerite (in Faust) in 1916, returning there regularly over the next 20 years. She made other débuts at Milan's La Scala (in 1916), Rome (1917), the Paris Opéra, as Thaïs, (1920) and San Francisco opera (1934).
Vallin had a great affection for French operetta, and performed works by Lecocq, Massé, and Chabrier; she even ventured into music hall during the 1930s, singing at the Alhambra in Paris. Such was her popularity in her native country that she also appeared in a 1937 film, La fille de la Madelon.
Vallin worked with most of the leading French singers of her era, including the renowned tenor Georges Thill, whom she disliked. Her voice was that of a good-sized lyric soprano, well balanced but strongest in its middle and lower registers; but, at her peak, she was also capable of singing high coloratura, as recordings of arias by Bellini and Donizetti illustrate. Her tone was cool and clear, with exemplary enunciation. Louise, Charlotte and Manon became her signature roles. Her performances were described by the critic André Tubeuf as the "epitome of good singing but also of good taste". Sound technique supported both her versatility and the durability of her career; as late as 1946, when she was 60, she sang the Countess (in Le nozze di Figaro) and she continued singing and recording into the 1950s. Between 1953 and 1959, she was a guest professor at the Conservatory in Montevideo.
Death
She died in 1961, aged 75, at La Sauvagère, her estate at Millery, near Lyon.[citation needed]
Recordings
Ninon Vallin left a considerable output of 78-rpm recordings, dating from 1913 until the early 1950s, which can be heard on CD reissues. Many of them consist of operatic arias but there are also notable discs of French mélodies by Fauré, Chausson and Hahn. Among the complete or semi-complete opera recordings in which she featured were:
Louise (abridged); conducted by Eugène Bigot in 1935;
Werther; conducted by Elie Cohen in 1931, with Georges Thill as the tenor lead, in what is still considered to be the finest, most idiomatic recording of this work; and
^Vallin's birthday is given variously as 7, 8 or 9 September, but her birth certificate states 8 September.
^. Marston Records. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
Bibliography
Barnes, H.M. [1953]. "Ninon Vallin", Record collector, viii, 53; with a discography.
Celletti, R. [1964]. "Ninon Vallin", in Le grandi voci, (Roma: Istituto per la collaborazione culturale); with an opera discography by R. Vegeto.
Fragny, R. de. [1963]. Ninon Vallin, princesse du chant, (Lyon: Éd. et Impr. du Sud-Est).
Pinchard, M. [1962]. "Hommage à Ninon Vallin", Musica, 95: 4.
Steane, John [1974]. The Grand Tradition, (Duckworth, London).
External links
Cantabile-subito
March 05, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Eugenie Ninon Vallin 8 September 1886 1 22 November 1961 was a French soprano who achieved considerable popularity in opera operetta and classical song recitals during an international career that lasted for more than four decades Ninon Vallin Contents 1 Career 2 Death 3 Recordings 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksCareer EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Eugenie Vallin was born at Montalieu Vercieu a small town about 30 miles east of Lyon She studied at the Lyon Conservatoire and later in Paris At first she had no intention of performing opera preparing herself for a career on the concert platform In 1911 she was chosen by Claude Debussy to sing the part of the celestial voice in the first performance of his Le martyre de Saint Sebastien She continued her association with Debussy giving the premiere of his Trois poemes de Stephane Mallarme in 1914 at the Salle Gaveau in Paris accompanied by the composer She also worked extensively with other contemporary composers including Albert Roussel Joaquin Nin Culmell and Reynaldo Hahn the latter two accompanied her in recordings of their own works She was first persuaded to sing opera in 1912 appearing in a number of roles at the Opera Comique including Micaela in Carmen Mimi in La boheme Clara in Les cadeaux de Noel and the title role in Louise She went on to make her debut at the Teatro Colon as Marguerite in Faust in 1916 returning there regularly over the next 20 years She made other debuts at Milan s La Scala in 1916 Rome 1917 the Paris Opera as Thais 1920 and San Francisco opera 1934 The range of roles which she undertook was unusually varied in their vocal requirements Manon Charlotte in Werther Juliette in Romeo et Juliette Marguerite in Faust Mignon Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Melisande She also sang the trio of heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann Vallin had a great affection for French operetta and performed works by Lecocq Masse and Chabrier she even ventured into music hall during the 1930s singing at the Alhambra in Paris Such was her popularity in her native country that she also appeared in a 1937 film La fille de la Madelon Vallin worked with most of the leading French singers of her era including the renowned tenor Georges Thill whom she disliked Her voice was that of a good sized lyric soprano well balanced but strongest in its middle and lower registers but at her peak she was also capable of singing high coloratura as recordings of arias by Bellini and Donizetti illustrate Her tone was cool and clear with exemplary enunciation Louise Charlotte and Manon became her signature roles Her performances were described by the critic Andre Tubeuf as the epitome of good singing but also of good taste Sound technique supported both her versatility and the durability of her career as late as 1946 when she was 60 she sang the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro and she continued singing and recording into the 1950s Between 1953 and 1959 she was a guest professor at the Conservatory in Montevideo Death EditShe died in 1961 aged 75 at La Sauvagere her estate at Millery near Lyon citation needed Recordings EditNinon Vallin left a considerable output of 78 rpm recordings dating from 1913 until the early 1950s which can be heard on CD reissues Many of them consist of operatic arias but there are also notable discs of French melodies by Faure Chausson and Hahn Among the complete or semi complete opera recordings in which she featured were Louise abridged conducted by Eugene Bigot in 1935 Werther conducted by Elie Cohen in 1931 with Georges Thill as the tenor lead in what is still considered to be the finest most idiomatic recording of this work and Les noces de Jeannette conducted by Laurent Halet in 1922 2 References Edit Vallin s birthday is given variously as 7 8 or 9 September but her birth certificate states 8 September Galathee amp Les noces de Jeannette Liner Notes Marston Records Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 23 February 2014 Bibliography EditBarnes H M 1953 Ninon Vallin Record collector viii 53 with a discography Celletti R 1964 Ninon Vallin in Le grandi voci Roma Istituto per la collaborazione culturale with an opera discography by R Vegeto Fragny R de 1963 Ninon Vallin princesse du chant Lyon Ed et Impr du Sud Est Pinchard M 1962 Hommage a Ninon Vallin Musica 95 4 Steane John 1974 The Grand Tradition Duckworth London External links EditMarston notes on Vallin s life and recordings Cantabile subito Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ninon Vallin amp oldid 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