Julie Dorus-Gras

She was born Julie-Aimée-Josèphe Van Steenkiste, The flautist Louis Dorus was her younger brother. She first studied with her father and began performing as a child, eventually becoming so well known as a vocalist that she received a municipal scholarship which enabled her to continue her studies in Paris. She was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire in 1821 and studied singing in the class conducted by Felice Blangini and François-Louis Henry. Later she received additional vocal training from Marco Bordogni and Ferdinando Paer. ==Career==

To begin her career she made a concert tour which took her to Brussels. Her concert was so successful, that Count de Liederkerke offered her a contract to sing operatic roles. Although she had not previously considered performing in dramatic works, she agreed, as Guillaume Cassel would coach her for six months to prepare her for singing and acting on stage. In 1849 she appeared in some of her most famous roles in French opera at the Royal Opera House, London, and was praised by music critic Henry Chorley as "an excellent artist, with a combined firmness and volubility of execution which have not been exceeded, and were especially welcome in French music". ==References==