Lebrun, Franziska (Dorothea née Danzi)

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Lebrun, Franziska (Dorothea née Danzi)

Lebrun, Franziska (Dorothea née Danzi), renowned German soprano; b. Mannheim (baptized), March 24, 1756; d. Berlin, May 14, 1791. She made her debut as Sandrina in Sacchini’s La Contadina in corte in Schwetzingen (Aug. 9, 1772), then became a prominent member of the Mannheim Court Opera, where she created the countess in Holzbauer’s Günther von Schwarzburg (Jan. 5, 1777). She made her first appearance in London at the King’s Theatre as Ariene in Sacchini’s Creso (Nov. 8, 1777), then was chosen to sing in Salieri’s Europa riconosciuta at the opening of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala (Aug. 3, 1778). She appeared at the Paris Concert Spirituel (1779) and again in London (1779–81); also continued to sing with the Court Opera in Mannheim, and later when the court went to Munich; likewise made guest appearances in Vienna and Verona, and later in Naples (1786–87) and Berlin (1789–90). She also composed; publ. 36 sonatas for Violin and Piano. She married the oboist and composer Ludwig August Lebrun (1778), with whom she appeared in concerts.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire