Lucy Arbell

Lucy Arbell (née Georgette Gall, Georgette Wallace) (Le Vésinet, 8 June 1878 – Bougival, 21 May 1947), was a French mezzo-soprano whose operatic career was mainly centred in Paris and who was particularly associated with the composer Jules Massenet.[2]

Lucy Arbell
Carte de visite of Lucy Arbell by Paul Nadar[1]
Born(1878-06-08)June 8, 1878
Le Vésinet
DiedMay 21, 1947(1947-05-21) (aged 68)
Bougival
NationalityFrench
OccupationOpera Singer

Life and career
Arbell reprising the title role of Jules Massenet's Thérèse (which she created) for the 1911 Paris première.

The father of Georgette was Edmond Richard Wallace (1840-1887), son of Sir Richard Wallace.

Arbell made her stage debut as Dalila at the Paris Opéra on 23 October 1903. She also sang there Amneris in Aida, Madalena in Rigoletto, Uta in Sigurd, Fricka in Die Walküre and Thérèse.[3]

Arbell in the role of Queen Amahelli at the Théâtre de l'Opéra (Palais Garnier), during the creation of Bacchus in 1909. Photograph by Paul Nadar.

She had a close relationship with the late operas of Massenet, creating roles in Ariane (Perséphone), Thérèse (title role), Bacchus (Queen Amahelli), Don Quichotte (Dulcinée) in Monte-Carlo and Paris, Roma (Postumia), and Panurge (Colombe).[2]

At the Opéra-Comique she sang Charlotte (Werther) up to the 1920s.[4]

As a singer she is described as having a strong, vibrant 'mezzo-contralto' and a vivacious personality.[2]

References
  1. Paul Nadar on Getty Museum
  2. Forbes E. Lucy Arbell. In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.
  3. Gourret J. Dictionnaire des Cantatrices de l'Opéra. Editions Albatros, Paris, 1987.
  4. Wolff S. Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900-1950). André Bonne, Paris, 1953.


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