Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Fanny Heldy was a French soprano who was born on August 26, 1878, in Paris, France. She was the daughter of a French father and a Belgian mother. Her father was a violinist and her mother was a singer. Fanny grew up in a musical family and started singing at a young age. She received her first vocal training from her mother. Fanny's talent was recognized at an early age, and she was accepted into the Paris Conservatory at the age of 16. She studied under the famous soprano Jeanne Raunay and the composer Gabriel Fauré. Fanny's voice was described as a "lyric soprano with a bright, clear tone and a remarkable range." Fanny made her professional debut in 1902 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where she sang the role of Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen. She quickly became a popular performer in Paris and was soon invited to perform in other cities in France and Europe. In 1908, Fanny made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London, where she sang the role of Marguerite in Gounod's Faust. Her performance was a huge success, and she was invited back to London many times over the next few years. Fanny's career continued to flourish, and she became one of the most famous sopranos of her time. She performed in many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, and the Berlin State Opera. One of Fanny's most famous roles was that of Mélisande in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. She performed this role many times throughout her career and was considered one of the greatest interpreters of the role. Fanny was also known for her performances of French art songs, or mélodies. She worked closely with many of the leading French composers of the time, including Gabriel Fauré, Reynaldo Hahn, and Maurice Ravel. She recorded many of these songs, and her recordings are still considered some of the best interpretations of these works. Fanny's career was interrupted by World War I, during which she worked as a nurse in a military hospital. After the war, she returned to the stage and continued to perform until her retirement in 1937. Fanny received many honors and awards throughout her career. She was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1920 and was promoted to Officer in 1931. She was also awarded the Order of Leopold by the King of Belgium in 1927. Fanny was married twice. Her first marriage was to the French baritone Lucien Muratore, with whom she had a son. Her second marriage was to the French composer and conductor Marcel Samuel-Rousseau. Fanny died on June 16, 1946, in Montauban, France, at the age of 67. She is remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of her time and as a champion of French art song. Her recordings continue to be admired and studied by singers and musicians today.

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