Branchu, Alexandrine Caroline (née Chevalier de Lavit)

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Branchu, Alexandrine Caroline (née Chevalier de Lavit)

Branchu, Alexandrine Caroline (née Chevalier de Lavit) famous French soprano; b. Cap Français, Santo Domingo, Nov. 2, 1780; d. Passy, Oct. 14, 1850. She was a pupil of Garat at the Paris Cons. In 1799 she married the ballet dancer Branchu, and that same year made her debut at the Théâtre Feydeau in Paris. From 1801 to 1826 she was one of the leading members of the Paris Opéra. She sang principal roles in the premieres of Cherubini’s Anacréon (1803) and Les Abencérages (1813), winning the composer’s approbation. She was also highly regarded for her portrayals of Gluck’s Alcestis, Iphigenia, and Armida, and of Piccin-ni’s Dido.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire