Violante Doria

Violante Doria (fl. mid-1500s), also known as Yolande or Yolante, was an Italian soprano from Genoa. She was considered to be one of “the most successful musicians in France during the reigns of the last Valois kings.” She was married to bass singer Girard de Beaulieu who was a well-known and important singer of the royal court from as early as 1572 until the last year of his life in 1590.” The couple played a large role in the creation of the French ballet de cour, the Balet comique de la royne, in 1581. The successful careers of both Doria and her husband were an important part of structuring the music of the royal court and show the significance in the rise of chamber music.

The Balet comique de la royne, later known as the Ballet Comique de la Reine, was created in October 1581 under the reign of King Henry III as a celebration of the marriage of the Duc de Joyeuse and the queen’s sister, Marguerite of Lorraine-Vaudémont. It was performed at the French court of Catherine de Médicis and was the first ballet to have a physical printed account (libretto). This five-hour show was created by Italian choreographer and musician Balthazar de Beaujoyeulx and is considered the first ballet to have created a theatrical experience by combining dance, music, sets, poetry, etc. This massive production cost 3,600,000 gold francs and was only performed once due to this high cost, however it had a major influence on the development of ballet, theatrical dance, and opera.

The music of Doria and Beaulieu is characterized as the new music of the early Baroque period. The music was also solo dialogue, which is a genre that was originally thought of as more representative of the seventeenth century. The duet of Doria and Beaulieu was “the only solo dialogue to appear in print as such in France before 1611.”

In the Balet comique de la royne, Doria played the part of Tethys, the goddess of the sea opposite her husband, Beaulieu playing Glaucus, the god of the sea. The two singers also accompanied themselves, with Doria playing the lute and Beaulieu a bass bowed string instrument. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Florid and vocally demanding solo interventions by Glaucus and Tethys alternate with a five-part vocal and instrumental refrain performed by royal chamber musicians representing tritons or sea gods.” Doria was considered to have great skill as a performer due to the music given to her in the Balet comique de la royne.

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Wikipedia