Solange Michel

Solange Michel (born November 27, 1912) is a French mezzo-soprano, particularly associated with the French repertory.

Born Solange Boulesteix in Paris, she studied at the Music Conservatory there with Thomas Salignac and André Gresse. She first began as a concert singer, giving her first performance on French Radio in 1936, and made her stage debut in 1942, as Charlotte in "Werther".

In 1945, she changed her name to Solange Michel and became a member of the Opéra-Comique where she debuted as Mignon. Shortly afterwards, she was invited to perform at the Opéra de Paris, and quickly established herself as the most important mezzo of her era. Her interpretation of Carmen is now widely regarded as a classic. Other notable roles included; Charlotte, Dalila, Geneviève, Marguerite in "La damnation de Faust". She also participated in the premieres of Wissmer's "Marion" in 1951, and Menotti 's "The Last Savage" in 1963.

She made guest appearances at the Royal Opera House in London, at La Scala in Milan, the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, also appearing in Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid, Lisbon, etc.

Michel was also much admired as a recitalist, and made her last appearance in Besançon, in 1978.

She made a number of recordings, the most famous being "Carmen", opposite Raoul Jobin, and conducted by André Cluytens.

ources

* "Le dictionaire des interprètes", Alain Pâris, (Éditions Robert Laffont, Paris, 1989), ISBN 2-221-06660-X