AMBRE, Émilie [AMBROISE, Émilie Gabrielle Adèle] (b Place Kléber, Oran, Algeria, 6 June 1849; d St Ouen, Paris, 13 April 1898)

This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century vocalist Émilie Ambre. Émilie Ambre was a fine performer, possessed of an excellent voice, considerable acting ability, a goodly dash of charisma, and striking looks. She also accomplished several notable deeds on the operatic stage – introducing Massenet's Manon to French provincial audiences, under the delighted baton of the composer, after its premiere in Belgium, and the French version of Aida to Paris. The first opportunity came from the circumstance of her birth: the dashing Mlle Ambre was from Algeria, and she would later be advertised and paragraphed as 'the first Moorish prima donna'. Émilie Ambre made her debut at London's Italian Opera 16 November 1878, singing Violetta alongside Runcio and Mendioroz. And she scored an undeniable success. Her performance that day, a Saturday night, sufficed to show that the encouragement she has received and the praises awarded to her have neither been indiscriminate nor unwarranted by the acquirements she possesses.