Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Nov 25, 2014

Marguerite Carré (Soprano) ( Cabourg 1880 – Paris 1947)




Her real name was Marguerite Giraud. Her father was a manager of the Théâtre Graslin in Nantes. Here she made her debut in 1899 as Mimi in G. Puccini’s ‘’La Bohème’’. She studied singing at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux, then at the Conservatoire de Paris. Her real debut was happened in 1902 at the Paris Opéra-Comique, again as Mimi in ‘’La Bohème’’. She married in 1902 the manager of the Opéra-Comique, Albert Carré (1852-1938). She appeared at the Opéra-Comique in a number of opera premieres, among other things in ‘’La pure Fiammette’’ of Xavier Leroux (23. 12. 1903), ‘’La fille de Roland’’ of Henri Rabaud (16. 3. 1904), ‘’Fortunio’’ of André Messager (5. 6. 1907), ‘’Le Mariage de Télémaque’’ by Cl. Terrasse (4. 5. 1910), ‘’Chiquito’’ of Jean Nouguès (30. 10. 1909) and ‘’La Danseuse de Pompéi’’ written by the same composer (29. 10. 1912). In 1906 she sang at the Opéra-Comique the title role in the French première of ‘’Madame Butterfly’’. In 1908 she performed in an unforgettable French première of N. Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘’The Snow Maiden’’, in 1909 in an important performance of Mozart’s ‘’Zauberflöte’’ as Pamina. On  7. 2. 1912 she sang at the Opéra-Comique in the premiere of Sylvio Lazzari’s ‘’La Lépreuse ‘’, on 20. 3. 1913 in ‘’Le Carillonneur’’ by Xavier Leroux, on 4. 6. 1913 in Charpentier’s ‘’Julien’’, in 1914 the role of Salud in the première of de of Falla’s ‘’La vida breve’’. In 1909 she appeared at the Opera House of Monte Carlo (where she made guest appearances in  the 1905-1907 seasons) in the premiere of the opera ‘’Le Cobzar’’ by Gabrielle Ferrari, in 1906 and 1910 took place guest appearances at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. In 1911 she created for Buenos Aires the role of Mélisande. After the First World War she appeared in Paris in operetta performances (‘’ La belle Hélène’’, ‘’La fille de Madame Angot’’,  ‘’La petite femme de Loth’’). Later she worked as a singing teacher in Paris. Soprano Janine Micheau among other things belonged to her pupils.

Chronology of some appearances

1899 Nantes Théâtre Graslin
1902 Paris Opéra-Comique
1909 Monte Carlo Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE










G&T, Paris 1904-06
Reine Fiammette (Leroux): Ariette (piano: Leroux) 33476 3438F
Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Pourquoi lutter (Chanson de l'epousee) 33477 3439F

Pathe cylinders & discs, Paris 1904?
Manon (Massenet): Duo de la rencontre with Leon Beyle 2534
Manon (Massenet): Duo with Leon Beyle  674 

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