Born: 7 May 1836, United Kingdom
Died: 21 January 1874
Country most active: International
Also known as: Euphrosyne Parepa de Boyesku or Boyescu
The following is excerpted from Famous Women: An Outline of Feminine Achievement Through the Ages With Life Stories of Five Hundred Noted Women, written by Joseph Adelman, published 1926 by Ellis M Lonow Company.
Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa, an English opera singer, born in Edinburgh. She was educated by her mother and in 1855 she made a successful début at Malta, appearing in England the following year.
In 1866 she made her first tour of America, and shortly after was married to Carl Rosa with whom she formed the famous Parepa-Rosa Opera Company. Her success continued unbroken until her death, which occurred in London while she was preparing for her part in an English version of Lohengrin.
Mme. Parepa-Rosa possessed a soprano voice remarkable for its power, purity and flexibility, with a compass of two and one-half octaves.
The following is excerpted from Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.
Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa, Famous Operatic Singer, 1836 – 1874 A.D.
This noted singer was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 7, 1836. Her father was a Wallachian nobleman, Baron Georgiades de Boyesku, of Bucharest. The baron died when Parepa was but a babe, leaving her mother a widow at twenty-one and in poverty. The mother took to singing in public and trained her daughter for the profession. Parepa made remarkable progress in her musical studies and at the same time learned to speak with ease, English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish.
At sixteen years of age she appeared in public for the first time in the city of Malta; then at Naples, Genoa, Rome, Florence, Madrid, and Lisbon, and everywhere became a favorite.
In 1857 she appeared in London and was so well received and so well did she sustain her reputation as a singer, that she continued in England for nine years. During this time she married a British officer, Captain Carvell of the East India service, but he died within a short period of time of their marriage.
In 1866 Parepa came to America and made a tour of the country with Levy, the noted cornetist and Carl Rosa, violinist. She began with concert work in New York, but afterwards took up also the oratorio and the opera. In 1867 she became the wife of Carl Rosa. In 1869-72 she organized with her husband an English opera company, with which she sang in the principal cities of the United States. During the winter of 1872-73 she sang at the Khedive’s court in Egypt. She died in London, January 21, 1874.
Parepa Rosa’s voice was pure soprano of great power and compass. In the technical parts of music she was thoroughly trained and possessed a perfect mastery of herself in execution.
The following is excerpted from A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, published in 1900 and edited by George Grove.
PAREPA-ROSA, Euphrosyne Parepa de Boyesku, born May 7, 1836, at Edinburgh. Her father was a Wallachian boyard, of Bucharest, and her mother (who died in 1870, in London) was Miss Elizabeth Seguin, a singer, sister to Edward Seguin, a well-known bass singer. On her father’s death, the child, having shown great aptitude for music, was educated by her mother and eminent masters for an artistic career. At the age of 16 Miss Parepa made a successful début on the stage as Amina, at Malta, and afterwards played at Naples, Genoa, Rome, Florence, Madrid, and Lisbon. In this country she made her first appearance May 21, 1857, as Elvira in ‘I Puritani’ at the Royal Italian Opera, Lyceum, and played, Aug. 5, 1858, as Camilla on the revival of ‘Zampa’ at Covent Garden, on each occasion with fair success. During some of the seasons between 1859 and 65 she played in English opera at Covent Garden and Her Majesty’s, and created the parts of Victorine in Mellon’s opera of that name (Dec. 19, 59); the title-part of ‘La Reine Topaze’ of Massé, on its production in England (Dec. 26, 60); that of Mabel in Macfarren’s ‘Helvellyn’ (Nov. 3, 64); playing also Arline, Satanella, Dinorah, Elvira (‘Masaniello’), and the Zerlinas (‘Fra Diavolo’ and ‘Don Giovanni). Her fine voice combined power and sweetness, good execution and extensive compass (of two octaves and a half, extending to D in alt); but in spite of these great merits and a fine figure, she obtained but moderate success in opera. On the other hand, she won almost from the first a great reputation in oratorios and in the concert-room, and was frequently engaged at the various Societies and Festivals, including the Handel Festivals of 1862 and 65. She also sang abroad in Germany and elsewhere. At the close of 1865 she went to America for a concert tour with Mr. Carl Rosa (whom she afterwards married there in Feb. 1867) and Levy the cornet-player, returning to England the following year. After their marriage Madame Parepa-Rosa and her husband remained in America for four years, and established their famous Opera Company, in which she was principal singer, achieving great success in English and Italian opera, oratorio and concerts. On her return to England, 1871, she was prevented by illness from fulfilling an engagement at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, but played for the winter season in Italian opera at Cairo, and the next year was heard with pleasure at Covent Garden as Donna Anna and Norma, and sang at the Philharmonic ‘Ah Perfido’ of Beethoven. In the autumn of 1871 Madame Parepa and her husband made a third visit to America with their company, the lady singing the next year in Italian opera with Wachtel and Santley. They returned in 73 to Englafiid with the intention of introducing an English version of ‘Lohengrin’ at Drury Lane in March 1874, but previously thereto Madame Parepa was seized with a severe illness, from which she died, Jan. 21, 1874, to the universal regret of a large circle of friends and admirers both in England, and America. Madame Parepa was highly educated, speaking and writing several languages with fluency and correctness. She brought a letter of introduction from the King of Portugal to the Prince Consort, and was in consequence invited to Osborne on her arrival in this country.