Mr. Malibran

No one is unaware of the detailed biography of Malibran, but who knows that of her first husband?

He was a Frenchman established in New York, where he was involved in commerce and banking. He saw Maria Felicia at the theater, admired her and asked for her hand despite the young girl's obvious reluctance. He was fifty years old, she was only seventeen! And besides, Mr. Malibran's character displeased him to the highest degree. She had to bow to her father's violent injunctions. Garcia believed Mr. Malibran to be very rich. However, a few weeks later, he filed for bankruptcy!

In 1827, the artist returned to France alone, leaving her husband in New York. It was only two years later that he thought of renewing these very loose ties; this gave rise, from his wife, to such strong protests that he had to abandon his plan and accept the de facto separation.

Finally, in March 1835, the marriage was annulled by the court because it had not been transcribed in the registers of the consuls representing the nation to which each of the spouses belonged.

Free, rid of a yoke and an odious name, Maria Félicia was then able to marry the man she loved so much.

Is it not strange that we continue to call Madame Charles de Bériot the Malibran and that the execrated husband still benefits in our memory from the glory of a woman who was no longer anything to him?