Sophie Arnould

author

Sophie Arnould

1740–1802

A star of the Paris Opéra in the 18th century, she was admired for both her singing and her vivid stage presence. She later became just as famous for the wit and lively stories that kept her name alive long after she left the stage.

1 Audiobook

Arnoldiana, ou Sophie Arnould et ses contemporaines; recueil choisi d'Anecdotes piquantes, de Réparties et de bons Mots de Mlle Arnould précédé d'une notice sur sa vie précédé d'une Notice sur sa Vie et sur l'Académie impériale de Musique.

Arnoldiana, ou Sophie Arnould et ses contemporaines; recueil choisi d'Anecdotes piquantes, de Réparties et de bons Mots de Mlle Arnould précédé d'une notice sur sa vie précédé d'une Notice sur sa Vie et sur l'Académie impériale de Musique.

by Sophie Arnould

About the author

Born in Paris in 1740 as Magdeleine Sophie Arnould, she trained with leading performers of her day and made her debut at the Paris Opéra in 1757. Over the next two decades, she became one of the company’s best-known sopranos, building a reputation for expressive acting as well as vocal charm.

She is especially remembered for creating major roles in operas by Christoph Willibald Gluck, including Eurydice in Orphée et Eurydice and the title role in Iphigénie en Aulide. She also appeared successfully in works by other important French composers, helping define the sound and style of opera in Paris during a period of change.

After retiring from the stage, Arnould remained a vivid figure in French cultural memory. Along with her musical achievements, she became known for her sharp wit, and many anecdotes about her circulated for years, making her one of those rare performers remembered not only for what she sang, but for the personality she brought to her world.