Lucy Arbell

Lucy Arbell (born Georgette Wallace, Paris, September 1882, died Paris, 1947), was a French mezzo-soprano whose operatic career was mainly centred in Paris and who was particularly associated with the composer Jules Massenet.[1]

Life and career

Arbell made her stage debut as Dalila at the Paris Opéra on 23 October 1903. She also sang there Amneris in Aida, Madalena in Rigoletto, Uta in Sigurd, Fricka in La Valkyrie and Thérèse.[2]

She had a close relationship with the late operas of Massenet, creating roles in Ariane (Perséphone), Thérèse (title role), Bacchus (Queen Amahelli), Don Quichotte (Dulcinée), Roma (Postumia), and Panurge (Colombe).[1]

At the Opéra-Comique she sang Charlotte (Werther) up to the 1920s.[3]

As a singer she is described as having a strong, vibrant ‘mezzo-contralto’ and a vivacious personality.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Forbes E. Lucy Arbell. In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.
  2. ↑ Gourret J. Dictionnaire des Cantatrices de l'Opéra. Editions Albatros, Paris, 1987.
  3. ↑ Wolff S. Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900-1950). André Bonne, Paris, 1953.