Maria Flécheux (1 August 1813, in

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

– 20 September 1842, in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

) was a French operatic

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...

. She is most notable for creating the role of the page Urbain in

Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (born Jakob Liebmann Meyer Beer; 5 September 1791 – 2 May 1864) was a German opera composer, "the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Mozart and Wagner". With his 1831 opera ''Ro ...

's ''

Les Huguenots () is an opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer and is one of the most popular and spectacular examples of grand opera. In five acts, to a libretto by Eugène Scribe and Émile Deschamps, it premiered in Paris on 29 February 1836. Composition history '' ...

'' in 1836.

Career

Flécheux began her career in her native Rouen, singing in the secondary theatre in that city. In 1834 she gave two solo concerts there which led to engagements in Paris. In 1835 she sang the role of Alice in Meyerbeer's ''

Robert le diable ''Robert le diable'' (''Robert the Devil'') is an opera in five acts composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer between 1827 and 1831, to a libretto written in French by Eugène Scribe and Germain Delavigne. ''Robert le diable'' is regarded as one of the first ...

'' at the

Paris Opera The Paris Opera ( ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be kn ...

, with great success. She was chosen to create the role of the pageboy Urbain in Meyerbeer's ''Les Huguenots'' the following year. Flécheux was praised for her fresh voice, endearing stage presence and clear timbre. She also sang at theatres in Belgium, before dying of tuberculosis aged 29.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flécheux, Maria 1813 births 1842 deaths 19th-century French women opera singers French operatic sopranos Musicians from Rouen 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis Tuberculosis deaths in France