Description

MARGUERITE CHARPANTIER

 

 

 

 

She studied in Paris (but not at the Conservatoire National) and began her career in 1905 at the Opéra-Comique in Proserpine by Saint-Saëns. After one season, she moved to the French provinces, where she achieved great success.

She first performed in Angers, then in Aix-les-Bains and Geneva, followed by engagements in Rouen, Troyes, and Boulogne-sur-Mer. She also gained significant acclaim at performances in the seaside resort of Trouville, where she appeared in Massenet’s operas Thaïs, Sapho, and Grisélidis. In Pau and Bordeaux, her portrayal of the title role in Delibes’ Lakmé was especially admired.

She made several guest appearances at the Cairo Opera and, in 1912, returned to Paris, performing at the Théâtre Gaîté and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. That same year, she joined the New Orleans Opera, touring Cuba with the company in 1913. In New Orleans, she performed as Queen Marguerite in Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots; Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette; Thaïs; Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto; and Eunice in Jean Nouguès’ Quo Vadis?—a highly popular opera at the time.

A few recordings of her performances were made by Pathé in 1911.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Sombre forêt 0580, 0048 Pathé, Paris 1911

Noces de Jeannette (Massé) Air du rossignol 0527 Pathé, Paris 1911

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Je ne sais quelle ardeur 2872, 0131 Pathé, Paris 1911

Pré aux Clercs (Hérold) Jours de mon enfance 0526 Pathé, Paris 1911

Robert le diable (Meyerbeer) Robert, toi que j’aime 2878, 0131 Pathé, Paris 1911