Christiane Eda-Pierre

Christiane Eda-Pierre (24 March 1932 – 6 September 2020 ) was a French coloratura soprano of Martinican origin, who sang in a wide variety of roles, from baroque to contemporary works.

Life and career

Eda-Pierre was born in Fort-de-France, Martinique, in a family of intellectuals. She is the daughter of journalist William Eda-Pierre and music teacher Alice Nardal, From a young age, she learnt piano from her mother. In September 1950, she left for Paris, studying at the École Normale de Musique de Paris for two years. After the lessons from Charles Panzéra, she switched from piano to singing. In 1954, she attended the Conservatoire de Paris, where she learnt singing from Louis Noguéra and diction from Gabrielle Fontan. She graduated with honours in 1957. and Dardanus. She was also very active on French Radio where she sang in little performed works, such as Rossini's Le siège de Corinthe, Bellini's Il pirata, Bizet's La jolie fille de Perth, as well as Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict and Benvenuto Cellini.

She created many contemporary works, such as Capdieville's Les amants captifs (1960), Chaynes's Pour un monde noir (1979), and Erszebet (1983). In 1983 she also created the role of the Angel in Olivier Messiaen's Saint François d'Assise, at the Opéra de Paris.

She became a teacher at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1977, while continuing her career in opera and in concert. She was made an Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 2007, and was promoted to the rank of Officier in 2016.

Publication