Viardot-García, Pauline

views updated May 18 2018

Viardot-García, Pauline (b Paris, 1821; d Paris, 1910). Fr. mezzo-soprano of Sp. parentage. Daughter of Manuel García and sister of Maria Malibran and Manuel García. Concert début Brussels 1837, opera début London 1839 (Desdemona in Rossini's Otello). Paris 1839. Married writer Louis Viardot, Paris, 1840. Toured Russ. 1843 and thereafter championed Russ. mus. CG 1849–55. Famous in Mozart roles and as Gluck's Orphée and Alceste. Retired from stage 1863 and wrote plays, painted, and comp. operettas and songs. Taught singing at Paris Cons. 1871–5.