A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Parepa-Rosa, Euphrosyne

by Alexis Chitty

PAREPA-ROSA, Euphrosyne Parepa de Boyesku, born May 7, 1836, at Edinburgh. Her father was a Wallachian boyard, of Bucharest, and her mother (who died in 1870, in London) was Miss Elizabeth Seguin, a singer, sister to Edward Seguin, a well-known bass singer. On her father's death, the child, having shown great aptitude for music, was educated by her mother and eminent masters for an artistic career. At the age of 16 Miss Parepa made a successful début on the stage as Amina, at Malta, and afterwards played at Naples, Genoa, Rome, Florence, Madrid, and Lisbon. In this country she made her first appearance May 21, 1857, as Elvira in 'I Puritani' at the Royal Italian Opera, Lyceum, and played, Aug. 5, 1858, as Camilla on the revival of 'Zampa' at Covent Garden, on each occasion with fair success. During some of the seasons between 1859 and 65 she played in English opera at Covent Garden and Her Majesty's, and created the parts of Victorine in Mellon's opera of that name (Dec. 19, 59); the title-part of 'La Reine Topaze' of Massé, on its production in England (Dec. 26, 60); that of Mabel in Macfarren's 'Helvellyn' (Nov. 3, 64); playing also Arline, Satanella, Dinorah, Elvira ('Masaniello'), and the Zerlinas ('Fra Diavolo' and 'Don Giovanni). Her fine voice combined power and sweetness, good execution and extensive compass (of two octaves and a half, extending to D in alt); but in spite of these great merits and a fine figure, she obtained but moderate success in opera. On the other hand, she won almost from the first a great reputation in oratorios and in the concert-room, and was frequently engaged at the various Societies and Festivals, including the Handel Festivals of 1862 and 65. She also sang abroad in Germany and elsewhere. At the close of 1865 she went to America for a concert tour with Mr. Carl Rosa (whom she afterwards married there in Feb. 1867^[1]) and Levy the cornet-player, returning to England the following year. After their marriage Madame Parepa-Rosa and her husband remained in America for four years, and established their famous Opera Company, in which she was principal singer, achieving great success in English and Italian opera, oratorio and concerts. On her return to England, 1871, she was prevented by illness from fulfilling an engagement at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, but played for the winter season in Italian opera at Cairo, and the next year was heard with pleasure at Covent Garden as Donna Anna and Norma, and sang at the Philharmonic 'Ah Perfido' of Beethoven. In the autumn of 1871 Madame Parepa and her husband made a third visit to America with their company, the lady singing the next year in Italian opera with Wachtel and Santley. They returned in 73 to Englafiid with the intention of introducing an English version of 'Lohengrin' at Drury Lane in March 1874, but previously thereto Madame Parepa was seized with a severe illness, from which she died, Jan. 21, 1874, to the universal regret of a large circle of friends and admirers both in England, and America. Madame Parepa was highly educated, speaking and writing several languages with fluency and correctness. She brought a letter of introduction from the King of Portugal to the Prince Consort, and was in consequence invited to Osborne on her arrival in this country. [See Rosa, Carl.]

[ A. C. ]

1. She had been previously married to a Captain Henry De Wolfe Carvell, who died at Lima, Peru. April 26, 1855.