Lucy Arbell

Lucy Arbell
Lucy Arbell by Paul Nadar
Born (1878-06-08)June 8, 1878
Le Vésinet
Died May 21, 1947(1947-05-21) (aged 68)
Bougival
Nationality French
Occupation Opera Singer

Lucy Arbell (née Georgette Gall, Georgette Wallace) (Le Vésinet, 8 June 1878 – Bougival, 21 May 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

The father of Georgette was Edmond Richard Wallace (1840-1887), son of Sir Richard Wallace.

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 Die Walküre 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) in Monte-Carlo and Paris, 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 2 3 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.
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