Élisabeth Duparc or Du Parc, nicknamed "La Francesina", (c. 1715 – died July 20, 1778) was a French soprano. She was notable for appearing in several premieres and performances of the oratorios and operas of

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

- she played the title role, for example, in the premieres of ''

Semele Semele (; ), or Thyone (; ) in Greek mythology, was the youngest daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia (Greek goddess), Harmonia, and the mother of Dionysus by Zeus in one of his many origin myths. Certain elements of the cult of Dionysus and Semele ...

'', and sang in the premiere of ''

Serse ''Serse'' (; English title: ''Xerxes''; HWV 40) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. It was first performed in London on 15 April 1738. The Italian libretto was adapted by an unknown hand from that by Silvio Stampiglia (16 ...

'' and ''

Saul Saul (; , ; , ; ) was a monarch of ancient Israel and Judah and, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, the first king of the United Monarchy, a polity of uncertain historicity. His reign, traditionally placed in the late eleventh c ...

''.Roland de Candé ''Les chefs-d'oeuvre classiques de la musique'' 2000 "Saul. Janvier 1739 Haymarket .. Gustavus Waltz (B), John Beard (T), Cecilia Young-Arne (S), Élisabeth Duparc (la Francesina; S). Direction : Haendel." After training in Italy she sang in Florence (1731, 1734–35) then London (1736 onwards) - at the latter she initially joined the Opera of the Nobility, where she appeared in operas by

Riccardo Broschi Riccardo Broschi (c. 1698 – 1756) was a composer of baroque music and the brother of the opera singer Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli. Life Broschi was born in Apulia, Kingdom of Naples, the son of Salvatore Broschi, a composer and chapelmas ...

Egidio Duni Egidio Romualdo Duni (or Egide Romuald Duny; 11 February 1708 – 11 June 1775) was an Italian composer who studied in Naples and worked in Italy, France and London, writing both Italian and French operas. Biography Born in Matera, Duni was tau ...

Giovanni Battista Pescetti Giovanni Battista Pescetti (c. 170420 March 1766) was an organist, harpsichordist, and composer known primarily for his operas and keyboard sonatas. Musicologist and University of California, Santa Barbara professor John E. Gillespie wrote that Pe ...

and

Francesco Maria Veracini Francesco Maria Veracini (1 February 1690 – 31 October 1768) was an Italian composer and violinist, perhaps best known for his sets of violin sonatas. As a composer, according to Manfred Bukofzer, "His individual, if not subjective, style has ...

References

French operatic sopranos 1715 births 1778 deaths Year of birth unknown Singers from London Place of birth unknown {{France-opera-singer-stub