Author: Robert B. Douglas
Title: Sophie Arnould
Description: Paris, Charles Carrington, 1898. First edition. Cloth. A wonderful biography of the actress and wit Sophie Arnold, illustrated with seven plates throughout. First edition. Sophie Arnould (1740 - 1802) was a French operatic soprano. Born Magdeleine Sophie Arnould, she studied in Paris with Marie Fel and La Clairon, and made her stage debut at the Opéra de Paris on December 15, 1757, and sang there for 20 years. She performed for Christoph Wilibald Gluck in the roles of Eurydice in Orphée et Eurydice and the title role in Iphigénie en Aulide. She also obtained considerable success in operas by Jean-Philippe Rameau, François Francoeur, and Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny. According to her contemporaries, her voice was more beautiful than powerful, but she was a passionate actress. Her lack of discipline in both her professional and personal life led to a premature vocal decline, however she was able to retire in 1788 with an enviable pension of 2000 pounds. A spirited conversationalist, she was much in demand in Parisian society, and legend has it that Madame de Pompadour said to her "With such talents, you could become a Princess". She was painted by Jean-Baptiste Greuze and Maurice Quentin de La Tour, and left her Souvenirs and an abundant correspondance. Illustrated with seven copperplate engravings. In a full cloth binding, with gilt detail to the front board and spine. Externally, sound. There is some wear to the extremities including slight bumping to the corners, and some marks to the boards. Front and rear hinges are strained, with cords showing to the front hinge. There is a small newspaper clipping pasted onto the front pastedown. Otherwise, internally, the text block is firmly bound. Pages are generally clean although slightly age-toned throughout. Good Only . Ill.: Adolphe Lalauze. Good Only .

Keywords: Sophie Arnould Biography Opera Music Biography Adolphe Lalauze


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