Alice Ducasse by Berthier

Alice Ducasse (1841-?); French soprano who created the role of Frasquita in the première of Bizet’s “Carmen” (1875). Although she was born at Valparaiso (Chile) she was of French birth. When she was still very young she came to Paris where she studied singing at the Conservatoire National. In 1867 she made her debut at the Théâtre-Lyrique as Queen of the Night in “Die Zauberflöte”. Also in 1867 she created here the role of Mab in Bizet’s “La jolie fille de Perth”. In 1871 she switched to the Opéra-Comique where in 1872 she created the title role in Saint-Saëns’ “La Princesse jaune”. Other memorable roles were Madeleine in Adam’s “Le postillon de Lonjumeau”, Susanna in Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro”, Jeanette in Massé’s “Les noces de Jeanette” and Juliette in Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”. In 1882 she retired from the stage and then worked as a singing teacher at Paris.