Cécile Mézéray was a French soprano active in France and Belgium in the mid nineteenth century. Born around 1859, she was one of the daughters of the musician Charles Mézeray (né Costard, born in Brunswick in 1810 and sometime conductor of the
Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux). Her sisters Caroline and Reine were also professional singers.
[ Fétis F-J. ''Biographie universelle des musiciens'', supplement, vol. 1, pp. 254–255. Paris, 1878.]
As well as singing, Cécile also played the harp.
[Noel E and Stoullig E. '' Les Annales du Théâtre et de la Musique, 3eme édition, 1877.'' G Charpentier et Cie, Paris, 1878, 220-221.]
Life and career
At the age of 18? Mézéray appeared with the Théâtre Lyrique at the
Théâtre de la Gaîté in Paris as Rosine in the ''
Barber of Seville'' in April 1877, and later that season as Violetta Tiepolo in ''Bravo'' by Salvayre.
Mézéray made her Paris
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...
debut on 27 May 1878 as Isabelle in ''
Le Pré aux clercs'', having spent the previous winter season in
Lyon. A good actress and musician, her salary at that time was 3,000 francs per month. Later in 1878 she sang Marie in a revival of ''
La Fille du régiment'', and she continued to sing at the Opéra-Comique for ten years. In 1881 she sang Angèle in ''Le Domino noir'', and the title role in ''Haydée'' in 1882.
She was billed at the
Théâtre de la Monnaie in ''
Jean de Nivelle
Jean de Nivelle (1422 – 26 June 1477) was a French nobleman, son of Jean II of Montmorency who became a byword for failing to fulfill filial duties and treachery. Called by his father to assist Louis XI in his conflict with Charles the Bold, Du ...
'' during the 1882-83 season and appeared during the 1885-86 season as Catherine de Médicis in the premiere of ''Saint-Mégrin'', when she was praised for her “impeccable talent”.
[Isnardon J. ''Le Théâtre De La Monnaie Depuis Sa Fondation Jusqu'a Nos Jours''. Schott Frères, Brussels, 1890.]
She sang Rosine in the 100th performance of ''Le Barbier de Séville'' at the Opéra-Comique on 25 February 1887, alongside
Louis Delaquerrière
Louis-Achille Delaquerrière, who was born in Les Loges, France 24 February 1856Oursel, N-N. ''Nouvelle Biographie Normande.'' Alphonse Picard, Paris, 1888, p53. and died in Paris 11 September 1937, was a French opera singer, and later a voice ...
as Almaviva and
Gabriel Soulacroix as Figaro, and Philine in the 500th performance of Mignon in 1878.
[Wolff S. ''Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900-1950).'' André Bonne, Paris, 1953.] Other roles with the company included Cherubino in 1882, the Queen of the Night in 1883, and Camille in ''Zampa'' in 1883.
She created a role in ''Dianora'' by Samiel Rousseau (1879), and sang Laurette in a revival of ''
Richard Cœur de Lion'' in December 1880.
[Soubies A, Malherbe C. ''Histoire de l'opéra comique — La seconde salle Favart 1840–1887.'' Flammarion, Paris, 1893.]
In the preparation for Chabrier's ''
Le roi malgré lui'' Mézeray came into dispute with Carvalho over the importance of her role. A replacement was found (Merguillier) but in April 1887 she had returned to rehearsals and created the part of Alexina that May.
[Delage R. ''Emmanuel Chabrier''. Fayard, Paris, 1999, p386.]
Mézéray appeared as Catherine Glover in the first revival in Paris of Bizet's ''
La jolie fille de Perth'', on 3 November 1890 at the
Éden-Théâtre.
[Noel E & Stoullig E. ''Les Annales du Théâtre et de la Musique, 16eme edition, 1890.'' G Charpentier et Cie, Paris, 1891.]
References
External links
Photograph of Cécile Mézéray from Gallica
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mezeray, Cecile
French operatic sopranos
1850s births
Year of death missing