Description

ZÉLIE DE LUSSAN (BROOKLYN/NEW YORK, 21 DECEMBER, 1861 – LONDON, 18 DECEMBER, 1949)

 

 

 

 

She was trained by her mother, the French singer Eugénie de Lussan. She began giving concerts at the age of 16 and made her stage debut in Boston in 1884 as Arline in Balfe’s The Bohemian Girl. In 1888, she made her first guest appearance in London as Carmen, a role that became her signature. She achieved great success at the Covent Garden Opera, where she performed from 1890 to 1910.

During this period, she was also associated with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, performing in the world premiere of Frederick Cowen’s opera Thorgrim at the Drury Lane Theatre in London in 1890. At Covent Garden, her notable roles included Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, and Bertha in Meyerbeer’s Le Prophète. In 1899, she sang Musetta in the Covent Garden premiere of Puccini’s La Bohème, alongside Nellie Melba as Mimì and Fernando de Lucia as Rodolfo. She also performed at court concerts for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.

In 1894, she joined the Metropolitan Opera in New York for three seasons. Her debut role there was Carmen, performed with Jean de Reszke and Nellie Melba. At the Met, she also appeared in the 1895 American premiere of Verdi’s Falstaff as Nannetta, alongside Victor Maurel. Her other roles included Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Nedda in Pagliacci.

In 1896, she embarked on a tour of France, Spain, and Portugal, and in 1900 she performed in New York with the Savage Opera Company. In England, she toured with the Moody-Manners Opera Company and appeared with various vaudeville troupes. From 1898 to 1900, she returned to the Metropolitan Opera for further engagements.

In 1907, she married pianist Angelo Fronani (?–1918) and subsequently limited her performances to occasional guest appearances, including a notable performance as Carmen at Covent Garden in 1910. She eventually settled in London, where she became an influential figure in the city’s musical life.

With her extensive and expressive voice, she excelled in both soprano and mezzo-soprano roles. Her repertoire included Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mignon, Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, Nedda in Pagliacci, Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello, and Musetta in La Bohème. However, her greatest role remained Carmen, which she performed over a thousand times during her illustrious career.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Carmen (Bizet) Habanera 8313 Beka, London 1906
2. Carmen (Bizet) L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) 81007, B18-1 Victor, 1903-05-17
3. La Paloma (Yradier) 81009, B17-1 Victor, 1903-05-17
4. Lili (Guétary) 81002, B16-1 Victor, 1903-05-17
5. Mignon (Thomas) Connais-tu le pays 81003, B19-1 Victor, 1903-05-17
6. Mignon (Thomas) Styrienne 8314 Beka, London 1906
7. Rosy Morn (Ronald) 81008, B20-1 Victor, 1903-05-17
8. Tribut de Zamora (Gounod) Garde la couronne des reines 8312 Beka, London 1906