Zélia Trebelli

A cabinet card portrait of French mezzo-soprano Zélia Trebelli [real name; Gloria Caroline Gillebert, or Le Bert,; the name ‘Trebelli’ is nearly her original name backwards].

Born in Paris in 1834, she studied with Wartel, and made her debut at Madrid in 1859 as Azucena. She was the first Metropolitan Opera Carmen (1884). She married the tenor Alessandro Bettini.

Madame Trebelli-Bettini died at Etretat in Normandy on 18 August 1892.

Photographed by Elliott and Fry of 55 Baker Street, London.