Agathe Alexandrine Gavaudan, called Mme Raimbaux or Raimbaux-Gavaudan, (1801 – 19 April 1877) was a French operatic contralto.
Born in Paris, Gavaudan is the daughter of Jean-Baptiste-Sauveur Gavaudan and Alexandrine Marie Agathe Gavaudan-Ducamel.
In 1820, she married Antoine François Victor Raimbaux (†1843) and they had two children.[1] She was a student of Manuel García.[2] She was first appreciated in the salons and in the concerts[3] with, among others, Maria Malibran. In 1830, she performed in England[4] and in 1831, in London[5] In March 1831, she made her debut at the Théâtre italien de Paris in the role of Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri, which can only be sung by a true contralto.[6] then Rosine in The Barber of Seville[7] and in the La Cenerentola. She plays the role of Arsace, a little low for her, in Semiramide[8] in La Prova d'un opéra séria[9]
She played in Naples in 1833[10] where she obtained success. An illness forced her to return to Paris in 1834 where she gave singing lessons and sang in concerts.[11] François-Joseph Fétis ensures her collaboration for the historical concerts he gives in Paris. She was hired at the Théâtre-Italien for the end of the 1835 season.[12]
At the Théâtre-Italien, on 23 January 1836, a benefit performance is given.[13] Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Raimbaux left the Italian scene.
Raimbaux-Gavaudan, now a widow, married the poet Étienne Casimir Hippolyte Cordellier-Delanoue.
Gavaudan died in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris[14] at the age of 68.
1872 : n° 32, 7 July; n° 33, 14 July; n° 34, 21 July; n° 35, 28 July; n° 36, 4 August; n° 46, 13 October. Read online.