Elen Dosia

Who was Elen Dosia?

Elen Dosia, born Hélène Odette Zygomala, sometimes known as Ellen Dosia, was a French opera singer of Greek origin.

Dosia was born in Constantinople. She became a soprano singer, and enjoyed her first major success at age 20 with the title part in Tosca. She quickly became one of the most popular singers at Opéra Garnier and Opéra-Comique, where she performed from 1935 through 1952. Before World War II she was described as "the most popular singer in the world". She appeared often in Massenet operas, performing in Manon and Thaïs, and appearing at the June 1942 Massenet Gala singing the title role in a tableaux of Esclarmonde.

In 1951 she appeared in Of Men and Music, a Fox film production, singing excerpts from Salome's part in Hérodiade.

On November 15, 1947 Dosia debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as Tosca to Jan Peerce's Cavaradossi and Frank Valentino's Scarpia with Giuseppe Antonicelli conducting. Her performance was relatively poorly received; reviews were critical, and after only five performances, she retired from the stage in 1952. Thereafter Dosia concentrated on her family life.