Sophie Arnould

author

Sophie Arnould

1740–1802

Remembered as one of the brightest stars of the Paris Opéra, she was admired for her expressive singing as much as for her wit. Her life at the heart of 18th-century French musical and social life still feels vivid today.

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 1740 and active in 18th-century France, Sophie Arnould became a celebrated soprano at the Paris Opéra. Contemporary reference sources describe her as a leading performer there, and later accounts remember her not only for her voice but also for her lively intelligence and sharp conversation.

She belonged to the world of pre-Revolutionary Paris, where opera, fashion, and high society often overlapped. Britannica notes her status as a prima donna of the Paris Opéra, showing how prominent she became in French cultural life.

Arnould died in 1802. Even now, she stands out as a figure who seems larger than life: an acclaimed singer, a memorable personality, and a glimpse into the glamour and complexity of French opera in the 1700s.