Martha Angelici

Who was Martha Angelici?

Martha Angelici, was a French operatic soprano of Corsican origin, particularly associated with the French lyric repertoire.

Angelici was born in Cargèse. While still very young she moved with her family to Belgium, where she studied voice in Brussels with Alfred Mahy. She began singing for the Belgian, Dutch and Luxemburg radio in 1933, and gave her first public concert at the Kurzaal of Ostend in 1934. Her first stage performance was in Marseille, as Mimi in La bohème, in 1936.

She made her debut at the Opéra-Comique in 1938, where she had a long and successful career, and made her debut at the Palais Garnier in 1953, as Micaela in Carmen, other notable roles included Leila, Pamina, Nedda, etc. She made a few guest appearances at the Monte Carlo Opera and La Monnaie in Brussels. She was also much admired in French baroque music notably in Rameau's Les Indes galantes, and was much loved as a concert singer, especially of Corsican songs.

She was married to the director of the Opéra-Comique, François Agostini. She died in Ajaccio, aged 66.