Lucy Geneviève Teresa Ward, Countess de Guerbel, DBE (27 March 1837
â€" 18 August 1922), also known as Countess de Guerbel and more
popularly known as Dame Geneviève Ward, was a United Kingdom-based
American-born Russian soprano and actress. She was appointed Honorary
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on her 84th birthday
in 1921.Ward was born in New York City to Colonel Samuel Ward, and his
wife, Lucy. She was the granddaughter of Gideon Lee, a former mayor of
New York City. At the age of three she accompanied her parents to
Europe. She began to display a preference for the arts, and devoted
herself by turns to the study of painting, sculpture, and music. By
degrees, music absorbed her entirely, and her proficiency on the piano
attracted attention.On 10 November 1856, at age 19, she married a
Russian count, Constantine de Guerbel. After a few years' stay in
Europe, the family returned to New York, and soon afterward made the
acquaintance of Henriette Sontag, who encouraged Ward to study
singing. When the Ward family returned to Europe, Sontag gave
Geneviève a letter of introduction to the composer Rossini. In 1862,
after Ward's last role in La Traviata, she retired due to vocal
difficulties. Ward later became a stage actress, noted for dramatic
roles.
â€" 18 August 1922), also known as Countess de Guerbel and more
popularly known as Dame Geneviève Ward, was a United Kingdom-based
American-born Russian soprano and actress. She was appointed Honorary
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on her 84th birthday
in 1921.Ward was born in New York City to Colonel Samuel Ward, and his
wife, Lucy. She was the granddaughter of Gideon Lee, a former mayor of
New York City. At the age of three she accompanied her parents to
Europe. She began to display a preference for the arts, and devoted
herself by turns to the study of painting, sculpture, and music. By
degrees, music absorbed her entirely, and her proficiency on the piano
attracted attention.On 10 November 1856, at age 19, she married a
Russian count, Constantine de Guerbel. After a few years' stay in
Europe, the family returned to New York, and soon afterward made the
acquaintance of Henriette Sontag, who encouraged Ward to study
singing. When the Ward family returned to Europe, Sontag gave
Geneviève a letter of introduction to the composer Rossini. In 1862,
after Ward's last role in La Traviata, she retired due to vocal
difficulties. Ward later became a stage actress, noted for dramatic
roles.
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