Régine Crespin

Régine Crespin (23 February 1927 – 5 July 2007) was a French operatic dramatic soprano, later a mezzo-soprano, who excelled in both the French and German repertoire. Crespin was born in Marseille. Her childhood was affected both by growing up during World War II and her mother's alcoholism.[1] She began taking singing lessons at the age of sixteen. After failing to pass her Baccalauréat but doing well in a singing competition, she went to Paris and studied at the Conservatoire.[2]