Marthe Chenal
(1881-1947)

woman and operatic soprano

Died aged c. 66

Marthe Chenal (24 August 1881 – 28 January 1947) was a French operatic soprano who had an active singing career between 1905 and 1923. Although she made a number of appearances with opera companies throughout the French provinces and on the international stage, her career was mainly centered at the Palais Garnier and the Opéra-Comique in Paris. She particularly excelled in the works of Jules Massenet and was an exponent of the works of Camille Erlanger. Chenal was admired not only for her excellent singing but also her dramatic prowess, with a number of critics comparing her to the great French dramatic actress Sarah Bernhardt. A remarkably attractive woman, Chenal was dubbed by the international press as "the most beautiful woman in Paris". She was noted for her rendition of La Marseillaise. Her voice is preserved on a number of recordings made with Pathé Records in 1915.

DbPedia
Wikidata Wikipedia

Commemorated on 1 plaque

Marthe Chenal, de l'Opéra, habita cette maison depuis 1921 jusqu'à sa mort le 28 janvier 1947. Elle chanta la Marseillaise du balcon de l'Opéra aux acclamations du peuple de Paris le 11 novembre 1918.

English translation: Marthe Chenal, Opera, lived in this house from 1921 until her death on January 28, 1947. She sang the Marseillaise from the balcony of the Opera De Paris to cheer people of 11 November 1918.

94 rue de Courcelles, Paris, France where they lived (1921-1947)