Cruvelli, Sofia (1826–1907)
Cruvelli, Sofia (1826–1907)
German soprano. Born Sophie Crüwell in Bielefeld, Prussia, on March 12, 1826; died in Monaco on November 6, 1907; sister of Friederika Marie Crüwell (1824–1868), a mezzo-soprano; studied in Paris with Bordogni, and in Milan with Lamperti; married Baron Vigier, in 1856.
Of Italian descent, Sofia Cruvelli was born in Bielefeld, Prussia, in 1826. Thought to be one of the finest dramatic sopranos of her day, she was first successful in Vienna in 1847 in Oddabella's Attila, and later in Paris and London. In 1854, she appeared at the Grand Opera in Paris and was widely lauded for her performance in Verdi's Les Vêpres siciliennes, which had been written for her. Her disappearance during rehearsals, however, had caused a stir when it was learned that she had taken a brief "honeymoon" with a Baron Vigier. She married him in 1856 and retired from the stage.