Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

October 11, 1860 in St. Petersburg, Russia

Death

:

October 12, 1936 in Paris, France

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Félia Litvinne was a renowned French-Russian soprano who was born on October 18, 1860, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was born into a family of musicians, and her father was a violinist in the Imperial Orchestra. Litvinne began her musical training at a young age, and by the age of 16, she had already made her debut as a singer in Saint Petersburg. In 1883, Litvinne moved to Paris to further her musical career. She quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence. Her breakthrough performance came in 1884 when she sang the role of Valentine in Gounod's opera "Faust" at the Paris Opera. Her performance was widely praised, and she became a sensation overnight. Over the next few years, Litvinne continued to perform in Paris and other major European cities. She sang in a variety of operas, including Verdi's "Aida," Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde," and Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin." Her performances were always highly anticipated, and she quickly became one of the most sought-after sopranos of her time. In 1890, Litvinne made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She sang the role of Valentine in "Faust," the same role that had made her famous in Paris. Her performance was a huge success, and she quickly became a favorite of American audiences. She continued to perform at the Metropolitan Opera for several years, singing in a variety of operas, including Verdi's "Il Trovatore" and Puccini's "La Bohème." Litvinne's career continued to flourish throughout the 1890s and early 1900s. She performed in major opera houses throughout Europe and the United States, and she was widely regarded as one of the greatest sopranos of her time. In 1901, she was awarded the Legion of Honor, one of the highest honors in France. One of Litvinne's most famous performances came in 1907 when she sang the role of Salome in Richard Strauss's opera of the same name. The opera was controversial at the time, and many singers were hesitant to take on the role of Salome. However, Litvinne embraced the challenge and delivered a stunning performance that was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. Litvinne continued to perform throughout the 1910s, but her career began to slow down as she entered her 50s. She made her final appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1914, singing the role of Lady Macbeth in Verdi's "Macbeth." She retired from the stage shortly thereafter, but she continued to teach and mentor young singers until her death in 1936. Félia Litvinne was a trailblazer in the world of opera. She was one of the first Russian singers to achieve international fame, and she paved the way for future generations of Russian opera singers. Her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence made her one of the most beloved sopranos of her time, and her legacy continues to inspire singers and audiences today.

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