23 Facts About Georgette Leblanc

Georgette Leblanc was a French operatic soprano, actress, author, and the sister of novelist Maurice Leblanc.

Georgette Leblanc became particularly associated with the works of Jules Massenet and was an admired interpreter of the title role in Bizet's Carmen.

For many years Leblanc was the lover of Belgian playwright and writer Maurice Maeterlinck, and he wrote several parts for her within his stage plays.

Georgette Leblanc portrayed the role of Ariane in Ariane et Barbe-bleue, both in the original 1899 stage play by Maeterlinck and in the 1907 opera adaptation by Paul Dukas, as well as La Mort de Tintagiles in 1905 in Paris.

Georgette Leblanc appeared in a couple of French films, most notably L'Inhumaine in 1924.

Georgette Leblanc was born into a cultured family that valued the arts of all forms and encouraged her to pursue music, acting, and writing.

Georgette Leblanc initially worked for a short time as an actress on the Paris stage before studying music under Jules Massenet in that city.

Georgette Leblanc made her professional opera debut at the Opera-Comique on 23 November 1893 as Francoise in Alfred Bruneau's L'attaque du moulin.

In 1895, Georgette Leblanc met playwright Maurice Maeterlinck in Brussels with whom she began a 23-year romantic relationship.

Georgette Leblanc had married a Spanish man a few years previously, and the Roman Catholic Church refused to give her a divorce from her unhappy marriage.

Georgette Leblanc sang in a number of recitals and concerts in Paris that included German lieder by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann that had been translated into French by Maeterlinck.

Georgette Leblanc remained active in opera in Paris, notably appearing as Fanny in Massenet's Sapho at the Opera-Comique in 1897.

Georgette Leblanc later recorded several arias from Sapho with the composer on the piano in 1903.

Georgette Leblanc was originally slated to perform the role of Melisande in the opera's 1902 premiere, but she was replaced by Mary Garden.

Georgette Leblanc did originate the title role in the world premiere of Paul Dukas's operatic adaptation of Maeterlinck's Ariane et Barbe-bleue in 1907, having already portrayed Ariane in the original stage play in 1899 in Paris.

Georgette Leblanc did however write several plays during this time, two of which, Marie-Victoire and Mary Magdalene, had leading roles for Leblanc.

Georgette Leblanc finally got to sing Melisande in 1912 in its premiere in Boston with the Boston Opera Company, where she acted the part in the play and recorded four songs with Columbia Records.

Georgette Leblanc had a number of romantic relationships with high-profile individuals during the 1920s and 1930s.

Georgette Leblanc was a close friend of fellow Gurdjieff student Margaret Anderson.

Georgette Leblanc continued to be popular among the Parisian artistic social circles and was notably friends with Jean Cocteau and Marcel L'Herbier, in whose film L'Inhumaine she starred.

In 1930, Georgette Leblanc published Souvenirs, an account of her liaison with Maeterlinck.

Georgette Leblanc authored a further autobiography and several children's books and travelogues.

Georgette Leblanc died at Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes in 1941 and was buried in the Notre Dame des Anges Cemetery beside Margaret Anderson.