Meyriane Héglon (Mezzo-Soprano) (Brussels 1867 – Paris 1942)

She studied singing with Marie Sasse (also known as Marie Sax) and with MM. Barthot, Tequi, and Obin. She continued her studies with Rosine Laborde. She had successful career at Grand Opéra in Paris (debuted in 1890 as Maddalena in ‘’Rigoletto’’). Here she appeared on 16. 3. 1894 in a small part in the premiere of the opera ‘’Thaïs’’of Massenet. Still in the same year she sang there in the French première of Verdi’s ‘’Otello’’ performing as Emilia and on 25. 5. 1894 in the premiere of the opera ‘’ Djelma’’ of Charles Lefebvre. In 1895 she created at Grand Opéra the demanding title role in the premiere of the posthumous opera ‘’Frédégonde’’ of Ernest Guiraud. The other premieres in which she appeared in this opera house were ‘’La Montagne Noire’’  of Augusta Holmès (8. 2. 1895), ‘’La Cloche du Rhin’’ of A. Bruneau (8. 6. 1898), ‘’Les Barbares’’ of Saint-Saëns (23. 10. 1901), ‘’Astarte’’ of Xavier Leroux (19. 2. 1901), ‘’Le Fils de l'Étoile’’ of Camille Erlanger (17. 4. 1904) and ‘’Miarka’’ of A. Georges (7. 12. 1905). On 21. 3. 1899 she performed in the premiere of the opera ‘’ Messaline’’ of Isidore de Lara at the Opera House of Monte Carlo opposite Francesco Tamagno. On 18. 2. 1904 she sang in Monte Carlo in the premiere of the opera ‘’Hélène’’ which Saint-Saëns dedicated to Nellie Melba, who created the leading role; on 19. 3. 1907 she appeared in the premiere of ‘’Théodora’’ of Xavier Leroux at Monte Carlo. In 1902 she created at Grand Opéra for Paris the role of Erda in R. Wagner’s ‘’Siegfried’’. In 1898 she made guest appearance at Covent Garden in London in the première there of the opera ‘’Henri VIII’’ of Saint Saëns; in 1899, still in the year of the premiere, she sang in London in the première of ‘’Messaline’’ of I. de Lara. In 1903 she guested in Zurich as Dalila in ‘’Samson et Dalila’’ of Saint-Saëns. She married the famous composer Xavier Leroux (1863-1919) in whose operas she appeared often. Later she was active in Paris as pedagogue and soprano Ninon Vallin belonged to her pupils. In 1904 she made only four records for G&T.

Chronology of some appearances

Monte Carlo Opera House

Die Königin Von Saba (Beeth, Maurel, and Vergnet)	Reine de Saba	23 Feb 1897
Amy Robsart (Darclée, Tamagno, Kaschmann)	La Reine Elisabeth	30 Mar 1897
Amy Robsart (Caron for Darclée)	La Reine Elisabeth	15 Feb 1898
Amy Robsart (Soulacroix for Kaschmann)	La Reine Elisabeth	2 Mar 1899
Messaline (Leclerc, Bouvet)	Messaline	21 Mar 1899
Messaline (Same cast)	Messaline	3 Feb 1900
Samson et Dalila (Alvarez, Renaud, Paul Aumonier)	Dalila	9 Feb 1904
Hélène (Melba)	Pallas	18 Feb 1904
Theodora (Rousselière, Renaud, Claire Friché)	Theodora	19 Mar 1907
Theodora (Durif for Friché) This performance in Berlin	Theodora	11 Apr 1907

COMPLETE RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Paris 1904-06-26

Ascanio (Saint-Saлns): Air 33470 3469F

Rêvérie (Saint-Saëns) 33471 3470F

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns): Printemps qui commence 33472 3471F

La solitaire (Saint-Saëns)  33473 3473F