Victoria Balfe
Encyclopedia
Victoria Balfe was a French noblewoman and singer.
Balfe, was also known as Victoire Crampton and Victoire Fernández de Velasco, duchess of Frías. She was the second daughter of the composer Michael William Balfe
and his wife, the singer Lina Roser. She was born in the rue de la Victoire, Paris, on 1 September 1837. Her father trained her as a singer and she studied the piano at the Paris Conservatoire. She later studied in London, with Sterndale Bennett and Manuel García
, and in Italy. She first appeared in London under Frederick Gye
's management at the Lyceum Theatre
on 28 May 1857, as Amina in La sonnambula
.
On 31 March 1860, she was married to Sir John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton, 2nd Baronet, the British minister to Russia. The marriage was annulled on her petition on 20 November 1863 on grounds of impotence. In 1864, she married José Bernardin Fernández de Velasco, duke of Frías, a grandee
of Spain.
On 2 January 1871, she died in Madrid. She was buried in Burgos Cathedral
, leaving behind three children.
Balfe, was also known as Victoire Crampton and Victoire Fernández de Velasco, duchess of Frías. She was the second daughter of the composer Michael William Balfe
Michael William Balfe
Michael William Balfe was an Irish composer, best-remembered for his opera The Bohemian Girl.After a short career as a violinist, Balfe pursued an operatic singing career, while he began to compose. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he composed 38 operas, almost 250 songs and other works...
and his wife, the singer Lina Roser. She was born in the rue de la Victoire, Paris, on 1 September 1837. Her father trained her as a singer and she studied the piano at the Paris Conservatoire. She later studied in London, with Sterndale Bennett and Manuel García
Manuel Garcia
Manuel Garcia may refer to:*Manuel García , singer & voice pedagogue; son of Manuel García *Manuel García , Spanish singer and composer, father of Manuel Patricio Rodríguez García...
, and in Italy. She first appeared in London under Frederick Gye
Frederick Gye
Frederick Gye was an English businessman and opera manager who for many years ran what is now the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.-Life:...
's management at the Lyceum Theatre
Lyceum Theatre
- United Kingdom :* Lyceum Theatre, London, a 2,000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster* Lyceum Theatre , an Edwardian period Grade II listed building and theatre* Lyceum Theatre , a 1068-seat theatre in the City of Sheffield...
on 28 May 1857, as Amina in La sonnambula
La sonnambula
La sonnambula is an opera semiseria in two acts, with music in the bel canto tradition by Vincenzo Bellini to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani, based on a scenario for a ballet-pantomime by Eugène Scribe and Jean-Pierre Aumer called La somnambule, ou L'arrivée d'un nouveau seigneur.The first...
.
On 31 March 1860, she was married to Sir John Fiennes Twisleton Crampton, 2nd Baronet, the British minister to Russia. The marriage was annulled on her petition on 20 November 1863 on grounds of impotence. In 1864, she married José Bernardin Fernández de Velasco, duke of Frías, a grandee
Grandee
Grandee is the word used to render in English the Iberic high aristocratic title Grande , used by the Spanish nobility; Portuguese nobility, and Brazilian nobility....
of Spain.
On 2 January 1871, she died in Madrid. She was buried in Burgos Cathedral
Burgos Cathedral
The Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral in Burgos, Spain. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is famous for its vast size and unique architecture. Its construction began in 1221, and was in use nine years later, although work continued on and off for two hundred years...
, leaving behind three children.