Beaumesnil, Henriette-Adelaïde de Villars DITE (30 August 1748, Paris; 15 July 1803, Paris), vocalist, made her debut at the Opéra in the title role of Sylvie on 27 November 1766. Melchior von Grimm saw this first performance by the young girl and described her as “pretty as a flower” and endowed with the easy grace essential to effective appearances on the stage. Beaumesnil was replacing Sophie Arnould in Sylvie on this occasion, and she was hoping patiently that she would be able before long…