Blanche Roosevelt Macchetta (1853-1898)
Blanche herself stands guard over her Great Circle grave.
Blanche and the Royal Opera House
The figure atop the handsome Italian marble memorial in the Great Circle bears the face of Blanche herself. Her classical dress and formal pose reflect a successful career as an opera singer.
Ohio-born Blanche was the first American woman to sing Italian opera at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, and to be recognised for her writing by the French Academy. She trained as a soprano in France and Italy, sang in concerts at Covent Garden and around Europe, and later joined the famous D’Oyly Carte opera company.
Circle of friends
She was a favourite of theatrical partners Gilbert & Sullivan, and a distant relative of US president Franklin D Roosevelt. Blanche cultivated a cultural circle, becoming friends with the American poet Henry Longfellow, Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, English writer Wilkie Collins and French artist Gustave Doré. She married an Italian marquis, and later was mistress of famous French writer Guy de Maupassant.
Blanche spent her later years living in France. In 1897 she was involved in a carriage accident in Monte Carlo. The driver was killed and Blanche was seriously hurt. She never recovered from her injuries, and died the following year, aged just 44.