Jeanne Laisné (soprano)

Marie Sophie Jeanne Laisné (born 21 March 1870; year of death unknown) was a French operatic soprano with the Opéra-Comique. She started her career as Sophie in the first French production of Massenet's ''Werther'', and went on to create the roles of Aurore in Jules Massenet's ''Le portrait de Manon'', Jeanne in Benjamin Godard's ''La Vivandière'', La Duchesse de Fronsac in Henri Hirschmann's ''L'amour à la Bastille'', and Henriette in Ernest Lefèvre-Dérodé's ''Le follet''. Other notable roles include Micaela in Bizet's '' Carmen'' and as Mimi in Puccini's ''La bohème''.

Biography

Laisné studied at the Conservatoire de Paris under Ernest Boulanger, graduating in 1892, after which she was engaged by the Opéra-Comique. She made her opera début on 16 January 1893 as Sophie in the first Paris production of Jules Massenet's ''Werther,'' which also featured Marie Delna, Max Bouvet, and Guillaume Ibos in leading roles.

She created the role of Aurore in Jules Massenet's ''Le portrait de Manon'', a sequel to his earlier '' Manon'', at the Opéra-Comique on 8 May 1894. Years after des Grieux's tragic romance, he has adopted a son, who is in love with Aurore, who, unbeknownst to des Grieux, is Manon's niece. The two young lovers have to remind him of his own tragic youth, in order to get him to accept that love should reign in their generation. In connection with the première, writing in ''La Nouvelle Revue'' (1 June 1894) the author and librettist Louis Gallet refers to "la charmante Mlle Laisné, qui joue et chante à ravir le rôle d'Aurore" (the charming Miss Laisné who plays and sings the role of Aurore so ravishingly). '' Le Matin'' discussed her charming voice and effective execution,; also quotes ''Le Figaro''. and ''Le Figaro'' discussed how she agreeably chirped and trilled her way through Aurore.

In 1898, '' Le Matin'' praised her performance in ''Fidelio'', stating "Mlle Lai è a une voix d'une pureté délicieuse, qu'elle sait conduire avec un art consommé" (Miss Lai é has a voice of delicious purity, which she knows to use with consummate art.)

Laisné married Jules Victor Henri Libent on 20 September 1901 in Paris ( 8th arrondissement).Archives de Paris, birth certificate. Marginal note covers her marriage
consultable online

Repertoire

* 1893: Sophie in Massenet's ''Werther,'' first French production, at the Opéra-Comique, 16 January.
* 1893: Geneviève in Alfred Bruneau's ''L'Attaque du moulin'' at the Opéra-Comique
* 1894: Created the role of Aurore in Massenet's ''Le portrait de Manon'' at the Opéra-Comique, 8 May.
* 1894: Nanette in Verdi's ''Falstaff'' at the Opéra-Comique, from 14 November
* 1895: Virginie in Victor Massé's ''Paul et Virginie'' at the Opéra-Comique, from 26 February
* 1895: Created the role of Jeanne in Benjamin Godard's ''La Vivandière'' at the Opéra-Comique, 1 April
* 1896: Isabelle in Ferdinand Hérold's ''Le pré aux clercs'' at the Opéra-Comique, 19 January
* 1896: L'Ombre heureuse in Gluck's '' Orphée et Eurydice'' at the Opéra-Comique, 6 March.
* 1897: Created the role of La Duchesse de Fronsac in Henri Hirschmann's '' L'amour à la Bastille'' at the Opéra-Comique, 14 December
* 1898: Philomèle in Delibes' ''Le roi l'a dit'' at the Opéra-Comique, 13 March
* 1898: Philine in Thomas' ''Mignon'' at the Opéra-Comique, 24 April
* 1898: Rafaela in Daniel Auber's '' Haydée, ou Le secret'' at the Opéra-Comique, 12 February
* 1898: Virginie in Victor Massé's ''Paul et Virginie'' at the Opéra-Comique, 24 November
* 1898: Marceline in Beethoven's ''Fidelio'' at the Opéra-Comique, 30 December
* 1899: Henriette in Halévy's '' L'eclair'' at the Opéra-Comique, 5 June
* 1899: L'Ombre heureuse in Gluck's '' Orphée et Eurydice'' at the Opéra-Comique, 20 December
* 1900: Jeanette in Victor Massé's ''Les noces de Jeannette'' at the Opéra-Comique, 7 January
* 1900: Philine in Thomas' ''Mignon'' at the Opéra-Comique, 19 January
* 1900: Anna in Boieldieu's ''La dame blanche'' at the Opéra-Comique, 2 February
* 1900: Created the role of Henriette in Ernest Lefèvre-Dérodé's '' Le follet'', 1 May
* 1900: Sœur Euphémie in François Devienne's '' Les Visitandines'', 15 May

From 1900, she also appeared as Micaela in Bizet's ''Carmen'', Suzel in Erlanger's '' Le Juif Polonais'', Baucis in Gounod's ''Philémon et Baucis'', and Mimi in Puccini's ''La bohème''.

References

Further reading

*L'Europe artiste, Paris, 1853–1904
viewable on Gallica
*Le Ménestrel, Paris, 1833–1940
viewable on Gallica
*Le Monde artiste puis "illustré", Paris, 1862–1914
viewable on Gallica

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laisne, Jeanne
1870 births
Singers from Paris
French operatic sopranos
Conservatoire de Paris alumni
Year of death unknown
19th-century French women opera singers