Eugenie de Santa Coloma Sourget

Eugénie de Santa Colona Sourget by Louis Mousquet

Jeanne Marie Eugénie de Santa Coloma Sourget (née de Santa Coloma; 8 February 1827 - 11 June 1895) was a composer, pianist, and singer who composed an opera and sang at the Paris Opera.[1][2][3][4]

Santa Coloma was born in Bordeaux to Marie Virgine Gazagne Bouguette and Eugenio Maria de Santa Coloma Lezica. Her father was the Consul of Chile and Consul General of Argentina in France.[5][2][6]

Santa Coloma showed early musical ability and began piano lessons at age 5 after she heard a song on the street and reproduced it perfectly on her family’s piano at home. She studied music with Arregui (not further identified), Henri Bertini, Charles Louis Colin (the father of French composer Charles Colin), Mme. Dufresne (not further identified), and Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmerman.[1] After hearing her sing in Paris, opera composer Fromental Halévy offered to write a role for her to sing. She debuted at the Paris Opera in 1847[7] and married M. Sourget in 1849.[6] Louise Bertin and Paul Lacome dedicated songs to her.[8]

In her will, Santa Coloma left a bequest of 5,000 francs to the Paris Conservatory. The interest was to be awarded each year to the male or female student who received first prize in singing, piano and composition. It was awarded to the following individuals:

• 1897 Mr. Hans (singer)
• 1898 M. L. Levy (piano)
• 1899 Mr. Ganave (unspecified)
• 1900 M. Cesbron (singing).[9]

Santa Coloma’s music was published by E. Gerard et Cie, Escudier Freres, and Joseph Meissonnier.[2][10] Her compositions included:

Works

Chamber

• String Trio[11]

Opera

• L’image[2]

Piano

• pieces[12]

Vocal

• "A une jeune fille" (text by Victor Hugo)[13]
• "C'est ton nom"[14]
• "Chant du crepuscule" (text by Victor Hugo)[13]
• "Chant Madeleine"[14]
• "La Cigale et la fourmi" (text by Jean de la Fontaine)[13]
• "Une Etoile"[10]

References

1. Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers. 2: Sai - Zyb, Appendices (2. ed., revised and enl ed.). New York: Books & Music. p. 616. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
2. Mendel (1883). Musikalisches Konversationslexikon: eine Encyklopedie der gesammten musikalischen Wissenschaften für Gebildete aller Stände (in German).
3. Elson, Arthur (1903). Woman's Work in Music: Being an Account of Her Influence on the Art, in Ancient as Well as Modern Times; a Summary of Her Musical Compositions, in the Different Countries of the Civilized World; and an Estimate of Their Rank in Comparison with Those of Men. L.C. Page. pp. 188, 256.
4. Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen London: the Scarecrow press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
5. "Jeanne Marie Eugénie de Santa Coloma Gazagne n. 8 Feb 1827 Burdeos, Gironda, Francia f. Sí, fecha desconocida: Genealogía Familiar". genealogiafamiliar.net. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
6. Bordeaux, Académie nationale des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de (1912). Recueil des actes (in French).
7. Champlin, John Denison; Apthorp, William Foster (1893). Naaman-Zwillingsbrüder. C. Scribner's sons.
8. "santa coloma sourget". imslp.org. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
9. déclamation (France), Conservatoire national de musique et de; Pierre, Constant (1900). Le Conservatoire national de musique et de déclamation: documents historiques et administratifs, recueillis ou reconstitués par Constant Pierre ; sous-chef du secrétariat (in French). Imprimerie nationale.
10. Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers: A checklist of works for the solo voice. A reference publication in women's studies. Boston, Mass: Hall. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-8161-8498-9.
11. Britain), Musical Association (Great (1882). Proceedings of the Musical Association. Stanley Lucas, Weber & Company.
12. Wier, Albert E. (1938). The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians. New York: The Macmillan Company. p. 1640.
13. "Eugénie Santa Coloma Sourget Song Texts | LiederNet". lieder.net. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
14. Laurence, Anya (1978). Women of Notes: 1,000 Women Composers Born Before 1900. New York: Richards Rosen Press Inc. p. 57.