Maria Garcia Malibran (1808-1836)
The legendary soprano Maria García (1808-1836) was the daughter of the Spanish composer and tenor Manuel García (1775-1836). After her marriage in 1825 to the New York banker Eugène Malibran, she became known as “La Malibran,” despite the fact that the marriage was very short. In 1827, Malibran returned to Paris. There she met her new love, the Belgian violinist Charles de Bériot (1802-1870).
This gilded medal of Maria Malibran was a souvenir of her interpretation of the title role of Bellini’s opera Norma. This medal is a part of the “Malibran Collection”, that was given to the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel in 1913 by the widower Henri-Emmanuel Wauwermans-de Francquen.
This necklace was worn by Maria Malibran in the premier of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda in the Scala in 1835. The jewelry design clearly had the intention of strengthening the image of the Scottish queen; sober, decidedly Catholic, but also somber.
With her husband, the violinist Charles de Bériot, she regularly toured England. This announcement of 26 June 1833 is entitled “Monsieur de Bériot’s benefit”. Malibran sang parts of John of Paris and Romeo e Giulietta and De Bériot played two movements of his violin concerto. This announcement appeared in the “Theatrical Observer”.
Contains an introductory text and the playbills of the "Theatre Royal, Olympic" and "Theatre Royal, Drury Lane". This last theatre presents "Mons. De Bériot's Benefit" with a.o. "John of Paris" and "Romeo e Giulietta" with contriubtion by Maria Malibran, and two concerto movements by De Bériot himself. Contains also the announcement that Malibran will perform Desdemona in King's Theatre on Thursday, June 27, 1833. |