A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Fodor, Mainville, Josephine
FODOR, MAINVILLE, JOSEPHINE,
One of the most brilliant opera-singers of the eighteenth century. Her fame is European. She was the daughter of M. Fodor, the violinist, and born at Paris in 1793. Already in her eleventh year, she appeared at the opera in St. Petersburg with a success which drew the eyes of all the directors of operas in Europe upon her. Her fame increased from year to year, so that, even at the age of seventeen, she had the most brilliant offers from the best theatres in Europe. She married the actor Mainvilie, and appeared with her husband at all the court theatres in Denmark, England, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, and Italy. The latter country greeted her with the title of Queen of Song, and Venice had a medal struck to honour her. Mademoiselle Sontag owes much to her instruction. She died a few years ago.