Delphine Ugalde

Who was Delphine Ugalde?

Delphine Ugalde, née Beaucé, was a French soprano. She was the mother of Marguerite Ugalde.

Delphine Ugalde was born in Paris. After studies with her mother and the tenor Théodore-François Moreau-Sainti in Paris, she made her debut at the Opéra Comique in 1848 as Angèle in Auber’s Le domino noir, followed by L'ambassadrice. She went on to create roles in several popular operas of the time including the title role in Galathée by Massé on 14 April 1852, Virginie in Le caïd by Thomas on 3 January 1849 and Coraline in Le Toréador on 18 May 1849. After a break, she returned for Psyché by Thomas on 26 January 1857.

She sang in Auber’s L’enfant prodigue in London in 1851. At the Paris Opéra she sang Alice in Robert le diable in 1851 and Leonora in Il Trovatore.

In 1858, she made her debut at the Théâtre Lyrique, where she sang Suzanne in Les Noces de Figaro, Carabosse Mélodine in La fée Carabosse by Massé, Blondine in L’Enlèvement au Sérail, Martine in Ma tante dort, and the title role in Gil Blas. Her final benefit performance on 14 May 1860 was a lavish affair with, as well as many popular singers, contributions from Massé, Sarasate and Gounod. She returned briefly in 1865 to sing Papagena.