Marie-Jeanne Larrivée Lemière

Marie-Jeanne Larrivée-Lemière (Sedan, Ardennes, 1733 – Paris, 1786) was a French dramatic soprano.[1]

Sister of distinguished violin concerto player, Henri Lemierre (1733–1802),[2] she was endowed with a voice of rare beauty and admirably timbre and was one of the most famous artists of the Paris Opera, where she debuted in 1750, under the name of Mlle Lemierre (often also spelt Lemière).[3] In 1753, after creating multiple roles, including Venus and Iris in Antoine Dauvergne's Énée et Lavinie, as well as, Aglaé and l'Amour (Act 2) in Jean-Joseph de Mondonville's Les Fêtes de Paphos, Mlle Lemière left the theater. It is not clear exactly as to why she left, but some say that it was due to the difficulties she had with Sophie Arnould who played the part, essentially of Oriane, in the work Amadis (Lully) (revival), and others say, that it so that she could perfect her vocal technique. In 1757, Larrivée-Lemière returned, and it appeared that her vocal abilities were indeed better.[4][5]

Among the other lucky creations of the Larrivée are those of the operas Silvie,[6] Omphale (Cardonne), Ovide et Julie (as Julie),[7] Salimes and Céphale et Procris (Grétry). Larrivée-Lemière retired from the theater in 1777. She had been married to her partner Henri Larrivée, since 1762, and had two daughters: pianist, harpsichordist and composer Camille Larrivée and violinist Agathe Elisabeth Henriette Larrivée. But in 1767, the Larrivée's separated,[8] and her two daughters went on to live with their aunt and guardian Elisabeth-Henriette Larrivée, by touring through French provinces in concerts.[9]

Marie-Jeanne Larrivée-Lemière was also one of the most estimated singers of the Concert Spirituel, where she regularly performed, in between 1750 and 1763, and then more irregularly until 1778, when she retired with a pension of 2,000 francs annually.[10]