Celestine Galli-Marie by Reutlinger

Celestina Galli-Marie as Mignon Creator

CELESTINE GALLI-MARIE
(Marie-Célestine Laurence Marié de l'Isle)
(November 1840 – 22 September 1905)
French mezzo-soprano

Most famous for creating the title role in the opera Carmen.Born in Paris. She was taught singing by her father, Mécène Marié de l'Isle, Her début came in 1859 in Strasbourg, and she sang in Italian in Lisbon.
She sang at the Opéra-Comique until 1885, premiering in Pergolesi's La serva padrona. Her most famous roles were in Thomas's Mignon (1866) and Bizet's Carmen (1875).
She created the roles of Lazarille in Don César de Bazan, Vendredi in Robinson Crusoé, the title part in Fantasio, as well as roles in Lara, Le Capitaine Henriot, Fior d'Aliza, La Petite Fadette, and Piccolino. She also sang Taven in Mireille and Rose Friquet in Les dragons de Villars. She died in Vence, near Nice.
Her voice was described as being of a good timbre, with clear diction and phrasing