Levasseur, Nicholas Prosper

1791-1871

Celebrated bass singer; born at Bresles, Oise, the son of a laborer. When sixteen years of age he entered the Paris Conservatory. His first appearance was as Osman Pacha at the Academy in 1813, and two years later he made his debut at the King's Theatre, London, in Simon Mayr's Adelasia ed Alderano. He sang in London for two seasons with much success, returning to Paris, where he had a permanent engagement at the Academy. He reappeared in London, and also sang at Milan on the production of Meyerbeer's Margherita d'Anjou in 1820. He was appointed teacher of singing at the Conservatory in 1841, where he taught until 1869, when he retired. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. He became blind a short time before his death, which occurred in Paris.