Catherine-Nicole Lemaure

Catherine-Nicole Lemaure or Le Maure (3 August 1704 – 14 January 1786) was a French operatic soprano. In 1719, she joined the Paris Opera's chorus, and after 1723 she sang many leading and titular roles throughout a career noted for sudden and unpredictable retirements until her final retirement in 1744.

Early life and career Lemaure was born in Paris, France, on 3 August 1704. In 1719, she joined the chorus of the Académie Royale de Musique, more commonly known as the Paris Opera. Her opera debut was in December 1721, in the role of Astrea in Phaëton, an opera by Jean-Baptiste Lully, and she was promoted to role of Libya in January. By 1723, she began to take lead roles, such as Hippodamie in Pirithoüs by Jean-Joseph Mouret and titular character Philomèle in Philomèle by Louis Lacoste. She was described as capricious and volatile, however, and she suddenly left the Opera in 1725 after a performance of Les élémens. This caused "disputes" After she refused to continue, she was detained overnight at For-l'Évêque, a Parisian prison, until she returned the next night to sing the role correctly. She died in Paris on 14 January 1786.

Artistry Lemaure had a voice noted for its rare beauty and instinctively attained a great grandeur on stage, particularly in tragic roles. As audiences continued to idolize her, they compared her exceptional vocal talent to Pélissier's skilled artistry, with Voltaire writing that he preferred "Pélissier pour son art, et le Maure pour sa voix." She had a "personal fascination in performance" and received much description from Jean-Benjamin de La Borde.

Though she retired in 1744, Voltaire and the Mercure de France continued to praise her and refer to her work into the 1770s.

Repertoire Lemaure performed many roles throughout her career:

Astrea in Phaëton (Lully), 1721 Libya in Phaëton (Lully), 1722 Hippodamie in Pirithoüs (Mouret), 1723 (created role) Philomèle in Philomèle (Lacoste), 1723 Pomone in Les élémens (Destouches, Delalande), 1725 A role in Hésione (Campra), 1730 Oriane in Amadis (Lully), 1731, 1740 Iphise in Jephté (Montéclair), 1732 (created role), 1735, 1740 Issé in Issé (Destouches), 1733 Iphigénie in Iphigénie en Tauride (Desmarets, Campra), 1734 Iphise in Dardanus (Rameau), 1744