Artôt, Marguerite Joséphine Désirée

Born July 21, 1835, in Paris; died Apr. 3, 1907, in Berlin. French singer (mezzo-soprano).

During the years 1855–57, Artôt studied singing under M. Audran and P. Viardot-Garcia. In 1858 she made her debut on the operatic stage in Paris. She toured many countries (including Russia, for the first time in 1868). Artôt also sang the parts of dramatic and coloratura sopranos. Her roles included Fides (Meyerbeer’s Prophet), Rosina (Rossini’s Barber of Seville), Gilda (Verdi’s Rigoletto), and Doña Anna (Mozart’s Don Giovanni). P. I. Tchaikovsky’s Romance in F minor for piano and six songs for voice and piano, which were based on texts by French poets, were dedicated to Artôt.