Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Jan 31, 2014

Marguerite Merentié (Soprano) (1880? - ?)






Till 1904 she studied singing at the Paris Conservatoire. Since 1905 she appeared for about eight years (at least till 1913) at Grand Opéra of Paris in which she made her debut as Chimène in ‘’Le Cid’’ of Massenet. In 1909 she sang as a beginning role at the Paris Opéra-Comique Carmen. In this opera house she appeared for the last time in 1919 as Mme Long in ‘’La Fille de Mme Angot’’ of Lecocq. In 1918 she took over at the Opéra-Comique in the 100-th performance of the opera ‘’Sapho’’ of Massenet singing the part of the Fanny Legrand. She was often to be found at the Opera House of Monte Carlo where she also appeared on 24. 2. 1906 in the premiere of the opera ‘’L'Ancêtre’’ of Saint-Saëns. On 26. 4. 1906 she sang at the Théâtre Nouveau of Paris in the premiere of the opera ‘’Le clown’’  of Camondo, on 15. 12. 1911 at the Opéra-Comique in ‘’Bérénice’’ of Albéric Magnards. In 1908 she appeared as a guest at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. In 1909 she guested only once at La Scala performing in the Italian première of the opera ‘’Theodora’’ of Xavier Leroux. Probably she retired from the stage in 1919.

Chronology of some appearances

1905-1913  Paris Grand Opéra  
1906 Monte Carlo Opera House
1906 Paris Théâtre Nouveau
1908 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie
1909 Paris Opéra-Comique
1909 Milan La Scala
1918 Paris Opéra-Comique


RECORDINGS FOR SALE








G&T, Paris 1907
Ariane (Massenet): La fine grâce 33646 5100h
Werther (Massenet): Va, laisse couler mes larmes 33654 5102h

Pathé, Paris 1911/1912
Werther (Massenet): Air des larmes 0206
Tosca (Puccini): Prière 0038
Cid (Massenet): Pleurez, mes yeux 70
Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens): Mon coeur s'ouvre 0141
Mignon (Thomas): Connais-tu le pays? 0143
Fascination (Marchetti) 0464
Marie-Magdeleine (Massenet): Mon bien-aime 0466
Les enfants (Massenet) 0471
Werther (massenet): Air des lettres 0477
Si tu le voulais (Tosti) 0480
Faust (Gounod): Le roi de Thule 0484

Pathé, Paris 1912?
Carmen (Bizet): L'amour est enfant de Boheme with chorus 1653
Carmen (Bizet): Ou me conduisez-vous?... Pres des remparts de Seville with Affre 1657
Carmen (Bizet): Les tringles des sistres tintaient with Ganteri and Billa-Azema 1659
Carmen (Bizet): En vain, pour eviter les reponses with. Ganteri and Billa-Azema 1669


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