Rose Françoise Carpentier called Madame Gonthier 7 December 1829, was a French actress and lyrical artist.

Life

Born in

Metz Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...

, her aptitude for theatrical arts is said to have been apparent from childhood, and a few society successes prove her aptitude for comic roles. She played in the provinces and in Brussels from 1771 to 1777. She was a member of the

Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine Prince Charles Alexander Emanuel of Lorraine (french: Charles Alexandre Emanuel, Prince de Lorraine; german: Karl Alexander von Lothringen und Bar; 12 December 1712 in Lunéville – 4 July 1780 in Tervuren) was a Lorraine-born Austrian general a ...

's company at theatre La Monnaie. She made her debut in 1778, as a boarder at the

Comédie-Italienne Comédie-Italienne or Théâtre-Italien are French names which have been used to refer to Italian-language theatre and opera when performed in France. The earliest recorded visits by Italian players were commedia dell'arte companies employed b ...

. At the beginning, she played the

soubrette A soubrette is a type of operatic soprano voice ''fach'', often cast as a female stock character in opera and theatre. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means "conceited" or "coy". Theatre In theatre, a soubrette is a c ...

s, but while still young, she devoted herself to performing the duègnes (

duenna A chaperone (also spelled chaperon) in its original social usage was a person who for propriety's sake accompanied an unmarried girl in public; usually she was an older married woman, and most commonly the girl's own mother. In modern social u ...

s) and the old peasant women. She played on 18 March of the same year, Simone in ''Le sorcier'' by

Philidor Philidor (''Filidor'') or Danican Philidor was a family of musicians that served as court musicians to the French kings. The original name of the family was Danican (D'Anican) and was of Scottish origin (Duncan). Philidor was a later addition to t ...

, then the mother Bobi, in ''

Rose et Colas ''Rose et Colas'' is a French opéra-comique in 3 acts by Michel-Jean Sedaine, music by Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny, first performed on the Théâtre-Français at the Hôtel de Bourgogne on 8 March 1764.Monsigny, and Alix, in ''Les trois fermiers'' by Dezède. In 1779, she was admitted as a member of the Comédie-Italienne. She successively played comedy and comic opera. Her appearance at the théâtre de la salle Favart in 1783 was marked by triumphs. She left this theatre following a dispute with the management and in 1793 she signed a contract with the théâtre de la République but Madame Gonthier was not there "in her sphere". She played in Lille in 1798–1799. In 1801, she was a member of the new society of actors of the Théâtre national de l'Opéra-Comique. Among the many creations that mark her career, Alix from ''Blaise et Babet'' by Dezède (1783), Perrette in ''Fanfan et Colas'' (1784), Babet in ''Philippe et Georgette'' (1791), the old peasant in ''Adèle et Dorsan'' (1795), Madame Bernard in ''Marianne'', Mopsa from ''The judgment of Midas''. In 1807, a performance for her benefit was given at the

Paris Opera The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be ...

in the presence of the empress

Joséphine de Beauharnais Josephine may refer to: People * Josephine (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Josephine (singer), a Greek pop singer Places *Josephine, Texas, United States *Mount Josephine (disambiguation) * Josephine Count ...

. She said goodbye to the Opéra-Comique in 1812.

Private

She married Charles-Adrien Gontier, an actor in Brussels then in Versailles, and in second marriage François Allaire (†1828),

coryphée A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on yea ...

of the Opéra-Comique, in 1798. Selon

Sainte-Beuve Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve (; 23 December 1804 – 13 October 1869) was a French literary critic. Early life He was born in Boulogne, educated there, and studied medicine at the Collège Charlemagne in Paris (1824–27). In 1828, he se ...

, she is said to have had a romantic relationship with Florian in 1778 and inspired the character of Estelle in ''Estelle et Némorin'' by

Henri-Joseph Rigel Henri-Joseph Rigel (9 February 1741 – 2 May 1799) was a German-born composer of the Classical era who spent most of his working life in France. He was born in Wertheim am Main where his father was musical intendant to the local prince. After an ...

(1788).

Creation

* 1783 : ''Blaise et Babet'' by

Nicolas Dezède Nicolas-Alexandre Dezède (c.1740 in Lyon – 11 September 1798, in Paris) was an 18th-century French composer born from unknown parents. Dezède presented a great many number of opéras comiques, of which several were popular, at the Théâtre ...

, role of Alix * 1784 : ''Fanfan et Colas ou les frères de lait'', one-act comedy by Madame de Beaunoir, création à la Comédie-Italienne, 7 September * 1789 : ''Le Tuteur célibataire'', comedy in one act by M. Desforges, first performed at the Comédie-Italienne on 17 November * 1790 : ''

Pierre le Grand ''Pierre le Grand'' (''Peter the Great'') is an ''opéra comique'' by André Grétry. The libretto, by Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, is based on the early life of the Russian tsar Peter the Great. It was first performed in Paris on January 13, 1790, with ...

'', opéra-comique by André Grétry,

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

by Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, 13 January, part of Geneviève * 1790: ''Le Chêne patriotique ou la matinée du 14 juillet'', two acts libertto by Daleyrac, libretto by Boutet de Monvel, music creation at

, 10 July, role of Madame Alerte * 1791: ''Philippe et Georgette'', libretto by Jacques-Marie Boutet de Monvel, music by Nicolas Dalayrac

premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its first ...

at the Comédie-Italienne, 28 December part of Babet. * 1795: ''Adèle et Dorsan'' by Nicolas Dalayrac part of the old peasant. * 1796: ''Le Mariage de la veille'', one-act comedy, libretto by

Charles-Joseph Loeillard d'Avrigny Charles-Joseph Loeillard d'Avrigny (c. 1760 in Martinique – 17 September 1823) was a French poet and librettist. He was married to the soprano Rose Renaud.Fétis, François-Joseph (1878)"Renaud, Rose" '' Biographie universelle des musiciens'' (2 ...

; music by

Louis Emmanuel Jadin Louis-Emmanuel Jadin (21 September 1768 – 11 April 1853) was a French composer, pianist and harpsichordist. Jadin was born in Versailles. He learned piano from his brother Hyacinthe Jadin and later worked at the Théâtre de Monsieur. His fi ...

, creation at the Opéra-Comique 2 January * 1797: ''Le jeune Henri'', opéra by

Mehul Mehul ( hi, मेहुल) is an Indian male given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning ''rain'' or ''cloud''. Notable people with this name include: * Mehul Buch, Indian actor * Mehul Choksi (born 1964/65), Indian businessman * Mehul Kumar (b. 1949 ...

, created at Théâtre Favart, 1 May, part of Christine * 1797: ''Ponce de Léon,'' Opéra bouffe in 3 acts by

Henri-Montan Berton Henri-Montan Berton (17 September 1767 – 22 April 1844) was a French composer, teacher, and writer, mostly known as a composer of operas for the Opéra-Comique. Career Henri-Montan Berton was born the son of Pierre Montan Berton.Charlton ...

, creation 15 March at the Opéra-Comique, part of Miss Dalmanchinaros. * 1798 : ''Primerose'', 3-act opera; libretto by Favières and Morel de Vendée; music by Daleyrac, creation at the Opéra-Comique 7 March. * 1799: ''Le Général suédois'', opéra-comique, 23 May. * 1800: ''Vadé chez lui'', comedy in one act by Jacques Benoît Demautort, created at the Opéra-Comique, 4 August * 1801: ''Le Grand deuil, ''opéra-bouffe in 1 act by

, libretto by and Charles-Guillaume Étienne, creation at the Opéra-Comique, 15 January, part of Mme Leblanc. * 1801: ''L'impromptu de Campagne'', 1-act opéra-comique, libretto by , music by

Nicolas Isouard Nicolas Isouard (also known as ''Nicolò'', ''Nicolò Isoiar'' or ''Nicolò de Malte''; 18 May 1773 – 23 March 1818) was a Maltese-born French composer. Biography Born in Porto Salvo, Valletta, Malta, Isouard studied in Rabat or Mdina with Fran ...

1st performance at the Opéra-Comique, 30 June * 1802: ''Lysistrata'', comedy in one act, mixed with vaudeville, libretto by François-Benoît Hoffman, creation at the Opéra-Comique, 16 January * 1802: ''L'Antichambre, ou les Valets chez eux'', opéra comique, in one act, libretto by Emmanuel Dupaty, music by Nicolas Dalayrac, created at the Opéra-Comique, 27 February. modified under a different title : ''Picaros et Diégo, ou la Folle soirée'' (3 May 1803). * 1803: ''Ma tante Aurore, ou le Roman impromptu'',

opera buffa ''Opera buffa'' (; "comic opera", plural: ''opere buffe'') is a genre of opera. It was first used as an informal description of Italian comic operas variously classified by their authors as ''commedia in musica'', ''commedia per musica'', ''dramm ...

in two acts, libretto by Longchamps and music by Boieldieu, creation at the Opéra-Comique, 13 January, part of Aurore de Germond. * 1803: ''Picaros et Diégo'',

en un acte, libretto by Emmanuel Dupaty, music by Nicolas Dalayrac, représenté pour la première fois, à l'Opéra Comique, 3 May, rôle de Dona Barba. * 1804: ''La jeune prude ou les femmes entre elles'', comedy and song in one act, libretto by Emmanuel Dupaty, music by Nicolas Dalayrac, premiered at the Opéra-Comique 14 January. * 1804: ''La Romance'', 1 act opera by

, libretto by Gaugiran-Nanteuil and Claude-François Fillette-Loraux, created at the Opéra-Comique, 26 January, part of Catherine. * 1804: ''Un quart-d'heure de silence'', one-act opera, libretto by P. Guillet, music by

Pierre Gaveaux Pierre Gaveaux (9 October 1761 – 5 February 1825) was a French operatic tenor and composer, notable for creating the role of Jason in Cherubini's ''Médée'' and for composing '' Léonore, ou L’amour conjugal'', the first operatic version of t ...

, created at theOpéra-Comique, 9 June. * 1806: ''Les Maris garçons'', one-act opera; libretto by Gaugiran-Nanteuil, music by Henri-Montan Berton, created at the Opéra-Comique, 14 July, part of Mme Dugrand<. * 1808 : ''Anna, ou les Deux Chaumieres'', one-act opera, libretto Sewrin, music by Solié ; creation at the Opéra-Comique 20 February. * 24 February 1809: ''Avis aux Jaloux , ou la Rencontre Imprévue'', opéra-comique in one act, libretto by

René de Chazet René de Chazet, full name René André Polydore Balthazar Alissan de Chazet, (23 October 1774 – 23 August 1844) was a French playwright, poet and novelist. Short biography The son of an annuities controller, parent of Mackau, the ambassador ...

and Jean-Baptiste Dubois, music by

Louis Alexandre Piccinni Louis Alexandre Piccinni (variously Louis Alexandre, Luigi Alessandro or Lodovice Alessandro) (10 September 1779 – 24 April 1850) was a prolific music composer born in Paris of Italian ancestry. Alexandre Piccinni was born in Paris. The gra ...

, creation at the Opéra-Comique (Salle Feydeau) 25 Octobre, part of Marceline * 1811, ''Le charme de la voix'', one-act opera, libretto by Gaugiran-Nanteuil and Julliette-Loraux, music by Henri-Montan Berton, created at the Opéra-Comique (

Salle Feydeau Salle is the French word for 'hall', 'room' or 'auditorium', as in: *Salle des Concerts Herz, a former Paris concert hall *Salle Favart, theatre of the Paris Opéra-Comique *Salle Le Peletier, former home of the Paris Opéra *Salle Pleyel, a Paris ...

), 24 January.

Notes and references

;Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gontier 1747 births 1829 deaths Actors from Metz Actresses from Grand Est 19th-century French opera singers 18th-century French actresses 19th-century French actresses French stage actresses Burials at Montmartre Cemetery

Life

Private

Creation

Notes and references

Further reading

External links