Constance Nantier-Didiée by Lopez y Perrochon

Constance Nantier-Didiée (1831-1867); French mezzo-soprano who created the role of Preziosilla at the première of Verdi's "La forza del destino" in St. Petersburg (1862).
She was a pupil of the famous French tenor Gilbert Louis Duprez. In 1849 she made her debut at Turin as Giulia in Mercadante’s “La Vestale”. In 1852 she appeared in Paris at the Théâtre-Italien and in the same year she made a tour in the South of France with an Italian Opera troupe. From 1853 until 1864 she belonged to the leading singers of the Covent Garden Opera in London.In 1853 she sang at the English première of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” the role of Maddalena and in the same year at the English première of Berlioz’s “Benvenutto Cellini” the role of Ascanio. In 1855/56 she made an extended and very successful tour in the USA. She made guest appearances at Paris, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Her last guest appearance was at Madrid where she died at the age of only 36.