Lussan-Fronani, Zélie de (1861-1949)

Lussan-Fronani, Zélie de

OPERA SINGER (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

BORN 21 Dec 1861, New York City, New York: Brooklyn - DIED 18 Dec 1949, London
GRAVE LOCATION London: St Mary's Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green (Grave no. 1366)

Zélie de Lussan was born in Brooklyn. Her parents were French and her mother Amédée Eugénie Bizel was a professional singer. Zélie appeared on the stage when she was nine years old, but her parents did not want her to pursue a singing career. After Christine Nillson (1842-1921) heard her sing she was able to change their minds. Her mother trained her and in 1854 she debuted in Boston as Arline in Balfe's "Bohemian Girl". She received further singing lessons from Giovanni Sbriglia (1832-1916). She stayed with the Boston Opera Company until 1889.

She was received well when she debuted at Covent Garden in the role of Carmen on 7 July 1888. One year later she was back in London. She sang at Her Majesty's Theatre, and she appeared at Covent Garden between 1890 and 1910. In 1894 she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in "Carmen". She also worked with the Carl Rosa Company during most of the 1890s and for the Moddy Manners Company. In 1903 and 1906 she made a number of recordings.

In 1907 she married the pianist Angelo Fronani. After her marriage she made less appearances, but she still performed Carmen in 1915. After the death of her husband in 1918 she continued to live in London where she taught singing for many years. She died in London in 1949.

Events

22/4/1890	Premiere of Cowens "Thorgim" at Drury Lane in London. It was an opera in four acts. Joseph Bennett wrote the libretto. The cast included Zélie de Lussan and Barton McGuckin.
14/5/1897	Last performance of Zélie de Lussan with the Carl Rosa Company in Edinburgh. She had performed with them since 1889 and she took her leave of them in "Don Gioavanni" at the Edinburgh Lyceum.