Maria de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo - Les Loisirs d'une Femme du Monde

Maria de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1789. She came from a wealthy family and received a well-rounded education that helped her develop a taste for literature and poetry.
In 1811, she married Comte de Merlin, a French army officer who had served in Cuba. The couple settled in France, where Maria frequented the literary and artistic salons of Paris. She befriended many of the leading writers and artists of the day, including Chateaubriand, Lamartine and Delacroix.
Maria de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo is best known for her literary work, which includes poems, short stories and essays, and a biography of Maria de Malibran entitled “Les Loisirs d'une Femme du Monde” in 2 volumes published by Ladvocat 1838.
She also played an important role in the cultural and social life of her time. She organized literary and artistic salons in Paris and Havana, and helped promote Cuban culture in Europe.
She died in Paris in 1852, leaving behind an important literary body of work and a reputation as a woman of letters and an enlightened salonnière. Her contribution to Cuban literature and Spanish-speaking culture has been recognized by many critics and writers, and she is considered one of the most important figures of nineteenth-century Cuban literature.

Maria Malibran, known as La Malibran, was a famous singer born in Paris on March 24, 1808, and died in Manchester on September 23, 1836. She was the daughter of Spanish composer and singer Manuel García and soprano Joaquina Sitches. Maria Malibran is considered one of the greatest opera singers of the 19th century, renowned for her dramatic soprano voice, exceptional technique and passionate interpretations.
She began her career in 1825 and quickly won over European audiences with her performances in operas by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and other composers. She was particularly appreciated for her roles in Bellini's “La sonnambula” and Rossini's “La Cenerentola”.
Maria Malibran was also known for her fiery temperament and tumultuous lifestyle. She married three times and had two children. Her life was marked by numerous scandals, both personal and professional.
Maria Malibran's career was brief but intense, and she died at the age of just 28, leaving behind a legend that continues to inspire many opera artists. Her contribution to operatic art was immense, and she is considered one of the greatest opera singers of all time (8F2).