Soprano
CROUSAUD Jeanne
After studying at the CNSM of Paris, where she graduated with unanimous honors, Jeanne Crousaud was entrusted with her first two leading roles: Ciboulette in *Mesdames de la Halle* by Jacques Offenbach at the Opéra Studio of Lyon, and the title role in *Le Petit Prince* by Michael Levinas ( Théâtre du Châtelet, Operas of Lausanne, Geneva, Lille…), both of which earned her great success.
Throughout her early career, she has portrayed roles such as Blondchen (*Die Entführung aus dem Serail*), Aspasia (*Mitridate*), Elvira (*L’Italiana in Algeri*), Clorinde (*Cendrillon* by Isouard), Zerlina (*La Sirène* by Auber), Musetta (*La Bohème*), Ernestine (*Monsieur Choufleuri*), the First Nymph (*Rusalka*), the Princess (*La Princesse légère* by V. Cruz), Amour (*Orfeo ed Euridice*), Flavie (*L’Elixir d’Hervé*), Najade (*Ariadne auf Naxos*), Athena and Circe (*L’Odyssée* by J. Matton).
She notably shared the stage with Felicity Lott at the European Young Talent Festival and with Michael Spyres in *Le Pré aux Clercs* by Ferdinand Hérold, in the role of Nicette at the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, produced by the Opéra Comique and recorded by Palazzetto Bru Zane.
The young soprano has had the opportunity to work with conductors such as Arie van Beek, Paul McCreesh, Raphaël Pichon, David Reiland, and Giuseppe Grazioli, as well as directors like Joël Pommerat, André Engel, Benjamin Lazar, Lilo Baur, Dieter Kaegi, Vincent Vittoz, and Nicola Berloffa. She has also collaborated with composers Francesco Filidei, Benjamin Attahir, Jean-Luc Hervé, Violeta Cruz, Raphaël Cendo, and Jules Matton.
Jeanne Crousaud regularly performs with the baroque ensemble Desmarest, with whom she recorded *Enone* in *La descente d’Orphée aux Enfers* by Marc-Antoine Charpentier in 2018.
The following year, she recorded the rare *Sirène* by Auber with the Frivolités Parisiennes, where she played the lead role of Zerlina. The album was released by Naxos and received critical acclaim.
In 2020, she reprised her role as Clorinde (*Cendrillon d’Isouard*) and portrayed Princess Fantasia in *Le Voyage dans la Lune* in Montpellier.
During the 2021-2022 season, she made her debut as Donna Anna (*Don Giovanni*) at the Nuits Lyriques de Marmande, receiving great success, and premiered as Ophélie (*Hamlet*) in Saint-Étienne.
Recently, she has performed as Princess Fantasia in Metz and Reims, and as Arthur in *La Nonne Sanglante* at Saint-Étienne.
Among her upcoming projects, she will take part in the Italian premiere of *Cantico delle Creature* by Francesco Filidei at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa.
Adagio Artists
The acclaim for Jeanne Crousaud's portrayal of *Ophelie* is nothing short of exceptional, highlighting her natural talent and emotional depth. Her voice is described as fresh, airy, luminous, and noble, perfectly capturing Ophelia's fragility. She performs with a sensitivity that brings authenticity to every note, particularly in the notoriously challenging "mad scene." Rather than succumbing to the often overblown vocal demands, Crousaud's interpretation feels natural, with the difficult vocalises and delicate pianos effortlessly integrated into her performance.
Her rendition of "Doute de la lumière" is particularly moving, described as a moment of infinite, tender sorrow. This emotional depth, combined with her technical precision, has left audiences and critics alike deeply impressed.
The comparison to Natalie Dessay is particularly significant, as Crousaud’s performance evokes the same kind of vulnerability and grace that made Dessay’s portrayals legendary. Crousaud brings a striking balance of fragility and power to the role, effortlessly handling the demanding vocal passages, particularly in her aria "A vos jeux mes amis." Her ability to navigate the chromatic scales and vocal challenges of the role showcases not only her technical skill but also her musicality and expressive power.
The emotional impact of her performance extends to Ophelia’s tragic death scene, where her interpretation is so poignant that it moves audiences to tears. Jeanne Crousaud’s *Ophelie* stands as a beautiful, multifaceted portrayal, one that will likely be remembered as one of the definitive interpretations of the character.
CROUSAUD Jeanne
Médias
