RACHEL ELISA

French actress. From 1838 to 1857 served in the theater "Comedy Frances. " Revived on the stage klassitsistskuyu tragedy (P. Kornel, J. Rasin). Since the mid-40′s toured in Europe and North America.

Elisa Rachel Felix was born on February 28, 1821. Her father, Felix Jacob, a Jew from the Mets, wandering small shopkeeper, the wheels on the towns and villages of Bohemia, Germany and Switzerland. His mother, Esther-Hai, born in Bohemia, helped him.

After the fifth child′s birth the family moved to France - first in Lille, then in Paris. Eliza gave a guitar and together with her sister was sent to work. Eliza sang songs from the theater "Port of St. Maarten. " According to the biography, she is so subdued audience that she dubbed "baby Georges (on behalf of the famous actress).

Talented girl noticed queer musician Shoron takes over her training. Before his death he gave Felix his sisters friend - St. Oleru, run by private school recitation, which was Molière theater on the street of St. Maarten.

Eliza has played more than thirty-five roles, and then was enrolled in the Conservatory with the exam and the board. Its benefactor was Joseph-Isidore Sanson - teacher which had unparalleled neither tragedy nor comedy. Eliza soon found a stage pseudonym - Rachel - in honor of the heroine of popular operas Meyerbeer then "Zhidovka.

By Rachel debut produced five plays. She had to speak in strong roles: Camille and Julia in the play Corneille "Horace" and "Zinnes, Germiony and Roxana in" Andromache "and" Bayazet "Rasin, Amenaidy in Voltairian" Tancred. " Since classical tragedy largely based on ancient stories, Sanson told Rachel to go to the Louvre, in the belief that statues of the ancient masters of fast scientific and historical treatises priobschat his student to the culture of antiquity.

Jun 12, 1838 Rachel debut on the stage "Comedy Frances" in the role of Camille in "Horatio. " Thirteen times during three months, the young actress to appear before the half-room, but the firm has not changed her mind and her confidence in her by a small live orchestra.

In the "Andromache" Rasin Sansona choice fell on Germionu, daughter Helen, the legendary Greek queen. The role of Germiony Rachel has worked all his life. The first time she tried to move the audience, cause sympathy of the bride rejected Pirra. But this little knitting, with its ideas of passionate and effective kind regal Greek. And Rachel pulled out the roots of the most sensitive of heart Germiony. She even did not hesitate to blame the cold brutality that have not slowed down to follow. Seen Rachel in 1850, IS Turgenev wrote: "This role is full of jealousy and hatred, as if created for it. Her voice was trembling rabies and scorn that would envy the hyena. Her last gesture of damnation Orest - amazing. It makes the half-, throws him a curse to the person as a fisherman throws lines - this is a very vibrant and very beautiful. "

Rachel carefully preparing for each role: first they copied it, then learn, in general, noting in notebooks pauses, intonation, gestures, and then for hours worked on the replicas, and only then Sanson said her unseen shades of meaning and finally otshlifovyval role.

By the end of September 1838 Parisians, as usual, began to return to the capital. Before they were come rumors that the "Comedy Francaise" is a new talented actress.

Charges of performances Rachel grew uncontrollably, raskupalis tickets two weeks in advance. Rachel was a quick success, however, disturb Sansona; happened what he feared - Rachel was part of fashion in the aristocratic salons. There are hair "a la Camille" dress "a la Emilia. Very soon the invitation actress sprinkle on all sides.

Rachel ready to rasinovskih Cast: Roxanne at Bayazet and persecuted in "Mithridates," as well as play in Amenaidu "Tancred" Voltaire. Especially hard to have had her in the role of Roxanne. Before an audience Roxana feminine, plastic, and extraordinarily beautiful, oriental type of person Rachel was flamboyant dress and regal garb Turkish. Parisians had cast a spell, and Sanson somewhat ironically summarize: prior to worship her ugly, but now the whole Paris decided that she is beautiful.

Its taste and tact resulted in the admiration of all. During the first exit at the light it has always been a simple white dress - without a single decoration and a flower.

Plight of soseterov did not prevent them to order a subscription to teach Rachel and gold laurel wreath on each sheet of which were engraved the names of the heroines, played it, and the inscription: "Cast" Comedy Francaise "- a great comrade. " Throughout the history of the theater the first time General soseterov Assembly voted unanimously for this gift.

Photo — «Rachel Elisa»

It was at this moment pop Felix, resentful low fees Eliza, was in theater and on the rights of a guardian demanded termination of the contract. He was denied. Felix then filed against the theater process, and won it. Theater must either rescind the contract or to agree to a bonded conditions. Sosetery chose the second, but the relationship with Rachel colleagues then hopelessly deteriorated.

Eliza knew that the high life prevents the theater, but it could not abandon luxury. She had to spend all your vacation at the exhausting tour, when slightly more than two months, she объезжала six dozen cities and has provided sixty to seventy submissions.

Prior to the "Mary Stuart", that is, until December 1840, over two seasons with a little Rachel has played eleven roles in the classical repertoire, but her favorite was "Horatio", "Andromache", "Bayazet, Polievkt" , Zinnes, Mitridat. Over the next seven years, Rachel has played more roles thirteen (not counting those it after a long and difficult rehearsals was not solved on the court to make the audience), of which only three, she left the repertoire.

It was believed that she was angry udayutsya only characters that she was powerless to "gentle" role. With this assertion difficult to accept: for example, "delicate" MONIM in rasinovskom "Mithridates" Rachel played a sixty-three times, and the fitful Himenu in the "Side" Corneille left nineteen submissions. Rachel called a "reckless," "reasonable" actress, seeking to "understand" the audience is much more than their "feelings. "

On the eve of dvadtsatidvuhletiya Rachel addressed the long-prepared role, regarded as the pinnacle of classical theater. January 24, 1843 Paris saw her in "Fedra".

The great Italian actor Ernesto Rossi shared his impressions: "With regard to Rachel, just do not pick up the words to express my admiration for this inspirational actress. x3c. . . x3e Although features of the false classicism appear in the style of game, the actress in the roles of Camille Fedra or wring tears from the audience. Wishing to ascertain whether it is the feelings that inspired me to play, I went after the "Fedra" to it in the toilet. Rachel seemed exhausted, his hands were cold, pale lips, cheeks burning. "Rachel, you are burning fever", - noticed me. "Yes, - she said - this role is killing me. I am too close to take it to heart. "

Acting happiness she smiled, high life and countless escapade, executed it with actor nemenshim brilliance, excites the entire Paris. It was the most serious intentions of caring 33-year-old Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna-Walewski, illegitimate son of Napoleon I and the Polish Countess Maria Walewski. He was a widow, very rich, neduren a famous secular victories to move to Office of Foreign Affairs.

November 3, 1844 from the father of Rachel. His name Antoine Jean Alexandre. Less than a month she went back to the stage. Even the long-awaited birth of the child was unable to remove Rachel from the theater. Obstacle family peace was not only theater, but all that is associated with it: nervous tension, after performances, overwork, disease, frequent disruptions, sudden changes of mood. All of this was to irritate the graph. Eventually they parted . . .

After the "Fedra" Rachel played in "Jeanne d′Arc" Sume. In the search for survivors in detail, she began to study the historical essays, narrates the era of the Hundred War. There was a desire to play the actress generalized image spasitelnitsy France, which she conceived Jeanne. Rachel presented the French monument to bygone glory. She played this piece five years, and from the first presentation of talk that it hurt the patriotic string in the souls of fellow citizens.

5 Apr, 1847 Rachel appeared on the scene in the tragedy Rasin "Athaliah". Eliza was only twenty-six years, while Athaliah four times as much. Grim helped actress feel like a biblical queen, feel the ancient old woman. She wanted to physical deformity and decrepitude Athaliah became visible. Eliza was able to create an image of the queen, all the substance of which "breathe life and crime. "

November 13, 1847 Rachel released another premiere, "Cleopatra", and almost in front of most second births went on vacation. The second son is named Gabriel Victor Felix, was born January 26, 1848. His father was a handsome young rake Artyur Bertrand and grandfather - the famous General of the Army of Napoleon. Bertrand refused to acknowledge his son and rushed to withdraw. Wild "high life an actress for a long time to be worried about biography, to write a solid work on the intimate life of Rachel.

Photo — «Rachel Elisa»

Meanwhile, the actress realizes that she is seriously ill. Now, not only of its relatives, but she is aware that she had consumption. Increased after birth, it is evident constant attacks stifling cough.

During the revolution, Rachel performed the "Marseillaise. " Its first performance was appointed as at 6 March 1848. Rachel ". . . was the audience in the form of the ancient statues, with a white tunic, but with a tricolor flag in his hand, thus personified France. Melodious intonation and an undertone, with a dead silent partner making it a famous song lyrics, telling each strophe special intonation, moving from a deep sense of sadness for the country to focus anger on enemies, and, finally, to the desperate resolve of the resistance. For all these shades of songs followed, and expression of an unusually mobile face actress, and when a minute call to arms, she fell on his knees, passionately Clamps trichromatic banner of the breast, her eyes burned with fever of enthusiasm. With this speech, which lasted little more than a quarter of an hour, Hall Theater of the French people filled the top down and announce boisterous applause. " These words belong to an external observer, Russian criticism of Paul Ва�ильевичу Annenkova.

After two months, Rachel sang "Marseillaise" in Paris, it was decided that it vyedet with her in the province. Speaking, that it has pledged to give at least a hundred performances, concluding each singing a revolutionary anthem. Organize a tour took pop Felix. During the month, Rachel overtake the nearly half of France. Later the actress tried to reproach, that she traded the name of the republic, and the proceeds usurped.

Back in Paris, Rachel, proclaimed "Muzoy freedom, posed for sculptors of marble portrait of Marianne - the symbol of republican France.

March 24, 1848, in the midst of revolution, the actress appeared in "Rape of Lucretia" Ponsara. Play about a young rimlyanke, obescheschennoy all-powerful patrician, she turned to tragedy trampled the dignity of man, helpless in the face of the tyranny of power.

In April of next year, viewers saw her in "Adrienne Lecouvreur. " Rachel Adrienne played sixty-nine times in the "Comedy Francaise" and a lot of time on tour. The play required a huge work. In all, with regard to style, features actor′s life and behavior, receptions Games XVIII century, the actress followed the advice of his teacher Sansona. Rachel has made emphasis on the last act of the drama, the scene of poisoning and death. She decided to credibly convey the physical sensation of dying. Here she has helped our own experience. Rachel can often be found in hospitals for the poor, where she saw in the agony of dying old and young, she even went to the famous penal servitude for Brest and talked with the prisoners.

Quite differently, she appreciated the play, Angelo "Hugo. "I want to prove to Mr. Hugo to be able to understand and too worthy to receive from the drama, written specially for me", - said Rachel during a rehearsal.

On the first day - it was May 18, 1850 - its expected success. Hugo went into raptures, he remembered those times when at the same stage in the "Angelo" met Dorval and Mars, and moved to say that he now pochudilis the shadow of these great actresses. However, taken away from the premiere of Rachel so much that her next performance took place just one week.

Over the three seasons that followed the premiere of "Angelo," Rachel made the five new productions. They were "Horace and Lydia" Ponsara, "Valerie" Lacroix and Makeev, "Diana" Ozhe, "Louise de Linerol" Leguve and Lady Tartuf "Madame de Girardin.

The strength of its emotional impact on the room, the peculiarity of her personality is wonderfully described in the description of Herzen: "It is not good, low growth, bad, istomlena, but much to her growth, her beauty that, with these features sharp, expressive, imbued with a passion? Playing it is surprising, as it is on the scene to do, you can not detach from it, a weak, brittle substance suppresses you, I could not respect a man who no longer would be under its influence at the time of submission. Like now, I see these tall pout, the burning glance, the trembling passion and outrage, which runs in her body! A voice - amazing voice! - He can prigolubit child, whisper words of love and strangle the enemy; voice, like the cooing turtledoves and creek vulnerable lioness. "

Every summer Rachel goes on tour. It is honestly trying to recover from the damage to the theater extra months of leave, and often plays on two plays in the presentation, but her health undermined. This is particularly perceptible in the winter, when illness forced Rachel rarely appear on the scene, angry that soseterov, no one wants to believe in the seriousness of her ongoing ailments, despite the fact that the release gives her doctor "Comedy Frances.

Photo — «Rachel Elisa»

"

Particular resentment aroused her desire to speak at the invitation of the king of Russia. Detour by the time all of Europe, the actress was not off to try their luck in the Northern Palmira.

In St. Petersburg, despite the expensive, tickets raskupili almost instantly. When October 25, Rachel has appeared in "Fedra", the hall was set up pretty cool. But with each passing day the success it has become increasingly clear. After four representations "Fedra" turn now "Mary Stuart" and, according to Rachel, when the curtain fell, "Russian entuziasticheskie almost took the attack scene. "

Rachel had the first floor in Gatchina, where just before her arrival had been built theater. After the performance she returned by train to St. Petersburg. Nicholas often attended her performances in the capital and made a sign of applause (in the theater does not rely clap before the king). Finally, she was invited to the palace, at an intimate dinner in a circle of the imperial family. "What a feast! - Rachel exclaimed in a letter. - And all this for the daughter, mother and pop Felix. "

After Moscow, St. Petersburg, she subdued. Citizens, for example, taught her shoe, made of blue tape Andreevsky Order . . . And in Moscow and St. Petersburg benefit actress turned to holidays.

"It really unspeakably great - he wrote the mother a musician Anton Rubinstein. - She was thirty-two years, but it is charming. And while such a talent and such a glory! We must have great strength or clod not to go mad. "

Back in Paris he was a frequent guest of Rachel, now almost relentless followed it. It is also nourished by intense sympathy for the musician. In the capital have already talk about their marriage, but with the departure of Rachel began a novel, it was broke.

Perhaps the greatest recognition of her art has received from Michael S. Schepkin. "She plays Camille, - said Maître - with такою terrible power that the execution of this role, no human force nedostanet but rigorous study of art and give it a full opportunity of glory endure this role: in the worst moment, when she lack of sounds, it is so skillfully rest as a holiday for us to think of the suffering - and then breaks with greater force. Yes, it is - the art is - a wonderful woman. I respect her a lot, not to say: I love ".

At the farewell performance by the audience hands each replica, in the end, after the curtain falls, the actress raised twenty-two times.

The success of the Russian tour, which culminated in March 1854, Rachel has strengthened the desire to go for long tours in America, to solidify his status, to ensure the future of children and families. Rachel took a vacation for fifteen months. At parting, she performed her best role. July 23, 1855 was her last performance at the "Comedy Frances. "

Before the arrival of Rachel American newspaper wrote: "It is not distinguished either birth or upbringing: they say, it surpassed in wanton Messalina and luxury - Semiramida.

Rachel the speech in New York on September 3, "Horatio. " Then followed: "Fedra" and "Adrienne Lecouvreur. " The final victory came with a "Mary Stuart. " Rachel played with the same success for six days a week. The Prophecies of French critics, sulivshih her full - and the financial and artistic - the collapse is not justified. However, the actress was quite exhausted. Following the presentation, she returned to the hotel in such a nervous strain, that the clock could not sleep. In Philadelphia, Rachel has played only "Horace" and slegla. Visiting Physician, American Paul Goddard, a diagnosis: Rachel from lung disease.

In France, she returned only in the summer of 1856, and soon, on the advice of doctors, went to Egypt.

May 31, 1857 the actress was forced to withdraw from the scene. Rachel was preparing for death. She ordered the eighteen boxes of rosewood, which was going to return the letter to friends. In each it has flower orange tree . . . And shortly before his death, she said: "I am dying from what was my whole being, - of art and passion. "

Unforgettable actress has gone from living Jan 3, 1858.

Rachel Grob carried in Paris, accompanied by the escort of soldiers and National Guard. Thousands of people accompanied her to the cemetery Per-Lashez. The entire troupe "Comedy Frances" had to be with her daughter dead, "once" revived ugasnuvshuyu tragedy of the blood of their own hearts. "

All that she had been puscheno at auction last several weeks. Things Rachel broke up with you . . .