A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Marimon, Marie

MARIMON, Marie, born in 1839 at Liège, was taught singing by Duprez, and made her début at the Lyrique as Helene on the production of Semet's 'Demoiselle d'Honneur,' Dec. 30, 1857; as Zora in 'La Perle du Brésil,' and Fatima in 'Abu Hassan,' May 11, 1859. She next played at the Opéra Comique Maïma in Offenbach's unsuccessful 'Barkouf,' Dec. 24, 1860; Zerline in 'La Sirène' with Roger, Nov. 4, 1861, and Giralda in 1862. She returned to the Lyrique, and afterwards played at Brussels. On her return to Paris in 1869 she made a very great success at the Athénée in French versions of Ricci's 'Follia a Roma' and 'Crispino,' and Verdi's 'Masnadieri,' Feb. 3, 1870. She played, at Drury Lane in Italian in 1871–72, and at Covent Garden in the autumn of the first year, Amina, wherein she made her début May 4, 1871, Maria ('La Figlia'), Rosina, Norina, and Astrifiammante. She made at first a great success solely on account of her beautiful rich round voice, her brilliant execution and certainty of intonation. She did not maintain the hopes excited at her début, since it was discovered that she was a very mechanical actress and totally devoid of charm. The only part she really played well was Maria. Nevertheless she became a very useful singer at Covent Garden 1874–77 in all the above parts, Donna Elvira, Margaret of Valois, etc.; at Her Majesty's in 1878 and 1880, in Dinorah, etc.; at the Lyceum in 1881. She sang with success in the English provinces, Holland, Russia, America, and elsewhere. She reappeared in Paris at the Lyrique as Giralda, Oct. 21, 1876; as Suzanne in Gautier's unsuccessful 'La Clé d'Or,' Sept. 14, 1877, and Martha, and at the Italian Opera in the last part Jan. 3, 1884.

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