Dame Marie Louise Cecilie Emma Albani (née Lajeunesse) (1847-1930), Opera singer

Sitter in 8 portraits
Singer. Marie Louise Cecil Emma Lajeunesse was born in Quebec, Canada. Appointed at the age of sixteen as a soloist and organist and choirmaster of a church in Albany. She studied with Gilbert-Louis Duprez and Francesco Lamperti. She made her opera debut in 1870 at Messina as Amina in Bellini's La sonnambula. She also appeared in Italy and adopted the stage name Albani. From 1852 Albani sang for five seasons at Covent Garden and appeared there nearly every Spring until her retirement from opera in 1896, also singing in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, St Petersburg and America. Created a Dame in 1925.