Sybil Sanderson by Benque

Sybil Sanderson as Thais "Thais" Massenet CREATOR ROLE

SYBIL SANDERSON
(December 7, 1864 – May 16, 1903) American Soprano
Born in Sacramento, California, in the United States. After her fathers death in 1886, she and her mother and sisters moved back to Paris and became transplanted socialites. Sanderson proved to be a remarkably gifted singer and began to appear on the stages of the Opéra-Comique, and later Opéra, in Paris, most notably in the works of Jules Massenet.She was his favorite soprano . Her professional debut took place in Paris in the title role in Esclarmonde). She created Esclarmonde by Massenet, on May 14, 1889 , Phryné by Saint-Saëns on May 24, 1893 and Thaïs by Massenet on March 16, 1894 .
She was also a famous interpreter of Manon, Massenet's most enduring opera. She recreated the role of Manon. Sanderson was also admired by Camille Saint-Saëns, who wrote the title role in Phryné for her. Success outside of Paris was elusive for Sanderson; she appeared at Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera (debut in title role of Manon on January 16, 1895, the last performance as Juliette in Roméo et Juliette on December 31, 1901) .