Charles Gounod

Autobiographical Reminiscences with Family Letters and Notes on Music Charles Gounod

My mother, whose maiden name was Victoire Lemachois, was born at Rouen on the 4th of June 1780. Her father was a member of the French magistracy. Her mother, a Mdlle. Heuzey, was a lady of remarkable intelligence and marvellous artistic aptitude. She was a musician, and a poetess as well. She composed, sang, and played on the harp; and, as I have often heard my mother say, she could act tragedy like Mdlle. Duchesnois, or comedy like Mdlle. Mars. Attracted by such an uncommon combination of exceptional natural talent, the best families in the neighbourhood-the D'Houdetots, the De Mortemarts, the Saint Lamberts, and the D'Herbouvilles-continually sought her, and literally made her their spoilt child.