Marie Fel

Marie Fel (* October 24 1713 in Bordeaux, † February 2nd 1794 in Chaillot (Paris) ) was a French soprano and opera singer and the daughter of the organist Henri Fel and the younger sister of opera singer Antoine Fel ( 1694-1771 ).

Life and work

She received singing lessons and a general artistic training with the soprano Christina Antonia van Loo (1704-1785), the wife of the painter Charles André van Loo. In 1733 Marie Fel debuted at the Paris Opera as Vénus in the Philomela of Marc- Antoine Charpentier. Later she also sang regularly in the spiritual concert.

In their thirty-five years lasting career, she sang mainly in operas by Jean -Philippe Rameau, together with Pierre de Jélyotte ( 1713-1797 ). This originates from the Aquitanian Lasseube and trained in Toulouse Haute- contre formed together with the soprano Fel the mainstays of the French musical theater in the second third of the 18th century. The violinist and composer Jean -Joseph de Cassanéa Mondonville composed roles and musical works specifically for them, they also participated in revivals of works by Jean -Baptiste Lully, André Campra, Joseph Bodin de Bois Mortier and Jean -Joseph Mouret. She retired in 1758 from regular stage appearances back, but was still up to the 1769 concerts.

She had a long-term relationship with the painter Maurice Quentin de La Tour, who painted a portrait of her in oil. Her great admirers among the French writers Friedrich Melchior Grimm and Louis de Cahusac. Her students included the French singer and actress Sophie Arnould.