BELOCCA [BEL(L)OKH], Anna de (b ?St Petersburg, 4 January ?1854; d unknown)

This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century vocalist Anna de Belocca. The mezzo-soprano known as Anna de Belocca was hailed by some as a 'great' of the operatic world of the 1870s. 'Mdlle de Belocca' appeared in Paris in early 1873. After the usual 'don't let you daughter on the stage' bit, Anna was apparently put to study at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, under Henriette Nissen-Saloman, and at some stage into the sphere or hands of Moritz Strakosch. Anyhow, from Russia, Anna went to Paris, where, under the patronage of the well-and-later-royally-connected Madame la Baronne de Caters (née Lablache), she continued her studies under Nicolas Lablache. The Italian Opera of Paris was due to reopen, and under his management. While the music press quibbled over what was to come next, Anna waited till the new year before, on 6 January 1874, coming out in a second role: La Cenerentola.