A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stoltz, Rosine
STOLTZ, Rosine, celebrated French singer, whose chequered life has afforded materials for more than one romance, born in Paris, Feb. 13, 1815. According to Fétis her real name was Victorine Noeb, but she entered Ramier's class in Choron's school in 1826 as Rose Niva. She became a chorus-singer at one of the theatres after the Revolution of 1830, and in 1832 made a very modest début at Brussels. In 1833 she sang at Lille under the name of Rosine Stoltz. Her knowledge of music was deficient, and she never became a perfect singer, but nevertheless made a considerable mark in lyric tragedy. The first time she displayed her powers was when acting with A. Nourrit as Rachel in 'La Juive' at Brussels in 1836. She re-appeared in the part at the Opéra in Paris, Aug. 25, 1837. Though inferior to Mlle. Falcon, who had created the rôle, the public was interested by a talent so original and full of fire, though so unequal, and Mme. Stoltz became a favourite from the day she appeared in parts written expressly for her. Indeed throughout Léon Pillet's management (1841 to 47) she reigned without a rival. She created the following mezzo-soprano parts:—Lazarillo in Marliani's 'Xacarilla' (1839); Léonore in 'La Favorite' (1840); Agathe in 'Der Freischütz' (1841); Catarina in 'La Reine de Chypre' (1841); Odette in 'Charles VI' (1843); Zayda in Donizetti's 'Dom Sébastien' (1843); Beppo in Halévy's 'Lazzarone,' Desdemona in 'Otello,' and 'Marie Stuart' in Niedermeyer's opera (1844); Estrelle in Balfe's 'Etoile de Séville' (1845); David in Mermet's opera of that name, and Marie in Rossini's pasticcio 'Robert Bruce' (1846). The last three were failures, and in 1849 she left Paris, but appeared for some time longer in the provinces and abroad. Then no more was heard of her excepting the fact of her successive marriages to a Baron and two foreign princes. Schoen published in her name six melodies for voice and PF. in 1870.
Among the works based on the life of Rosine Stoltz may be mentioned Scudo's 'Histoire d'une cantatrice de l'Opéra'; Lamer's 'Mme. Rosine Stoltz' (Paris 1847, 16mo); Cantinjou's 'Les Adieux de Mme. Stoltz' (Paris 1847, 18mo) and Mlle. Eugénie Pérignon's 'Rosine Stoltz' (Paris 1847, 8vo).
She must not be confounded with Teresina Stolz, an Italian soprano who distinguished herself in Verdi's operas, especially as Aïda.[ G. C. ]