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Louise DugazonFrench opera singer (mezzo-soprano)
Date of Birth: 18.06.1755
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Louise Du-Gazon
Louise Du-Gazon was a French opera singer (mezzo-soprano) and the wife of actor and playwright Du-Gazon. She was also the mother of composer Gustave Du-Gazon.
Early Life and Career
Louise Du-Gazon was born into a family of French dancers, who performed in the ballet ensemble of the Berlin Opera. In 1765, François Jacques Lefebure and his family returned to Paris. From 1767, young Rose Lefebure spent her time behind the scenes of the Italian Comedy Theater, where her two older sisters were already performing. André Grétry noticed her talent for imitation and mimicry of leading actors and actresses in the troupe. In 1769, at Grétry's suggestion, Rose Lefebure had the opportunity to debut in Grétry's one-act opera "Lucille," playing a peasant girl with just one aria. After this, Rose Lefebure started taking singing lessons, and in 1774, she made her "adult" debut in Grétry's opera "Sylvain." In 1776, she married actor Henri Gourgo, who performed under the pseudonym Du-Gazon, and adopted his stage name as her surname.
Success and Legacy
Louise Du-Gazon achieved her greatest success in the 1780s and 1790s, particularly in the lead role of Nicolas Dalayrac's opera "Nina, or The Mad for Love." The artist Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, for example, wrote about Du-Gazon: "She was the greatest talent among all who ever performed at the Opéra-Comique... I think I attended 'Nina' at least 20 times" (possibly due to such recognition, Vigée-Lebrun's portrait of Du-Gazon in the role of Nina was long attributed to her). Du-Gazon also excelled in other operas, mostly by Grétry or Étienne Méhul. In 1804, due to her illness, Du-Gazon retired from the stage.
