Nicolas Levasseur

Born Nicolas-Prosper Levasseur at Bresles, Oise, he studied at the Paris Music Conservatory from 1807 to 1811, with Pierre-Jean Garat.

He made his professional debut at the Paris Opéra in 1813, as Osman Pacha, in La caravane du Caire by André Grétry.

He sang in London at the King's Theatre from 1815 to 1817, notably as the Count in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro.

He also sang at La Scala in Milan, from 1820 to 1822, where he took part in the creation of Meyerbeer's Margherita d'Anjou.

Levasseur was considered peerless in his time, possessing a voice of remarkable beauty and grandeur.

Nicolas-Prosper Levasseur
Costume designs by Eugène Du Faget for the original production of William Tell , with Nicolas Levasseur as Walter Furst on the right.