Marchesi, Mathilde

1826-

Concert-singer and teacher; born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, where her father was a wealthy merchant. In 1843, on the loss of his fortune, she began to study singing at Vienna with Nicolai, going to Garcia in Paris in 1845, and at the same time studying declamation with Samson, who was Rachel's teacher. In 1849 she settled in London, and became well known as a concert-singer. She married Salvatore Marchesi in 1852, and with him toured Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and France. In 1854 she became professor of singing at Vienna Conservatory, where she developed lima de Murska and Fricci Kraus. In 1861 she went to Paris, where she published her cole du Chant, considered by such masters as Rossini as a superior text-book. From 1865 to 1868 she taught at Cologne Conservatory, leaving to continue her work at the Vienna Conservatory, where she remained until 1878, having as her pupils Etelka Gerster, Madame Schuch, Proska and others. She returned to Paris in 1881, and, although advanced in years, she is still teaching, and is considered the foremost teacher for feminine voices. Among her former pupils are Melba, Calve, Sanderson, Eames and Adams. The Emperor of Austria awarded her the Cross of Merit of the first class, besides which honor she has been decorated by the Emperor of Germany, the King of Saxony and the King of Italy. She belongs to the St. Cecilia Society at Rome and to the Academy at Florence. She has published twenty- four books of vocal exercises; a Grand Practical Method; Exercises filementaires; fitudes d'agilite avec par les; ficole Marchesi, 1'Art du Chant, Vocalises pour une, deux et trois voix; besides her reminiscences, Marchesi and Music, which appeared in 1897.