Exceptional Boxed Paper Doll Set - Mdme. de Marra Vollmer - Austrian-German Soprano

1845. Overall fine condition, neck repairs on dolls.. This boxed set with elaborately decorated applied water color hand finished paper label is for Austrian-German opera star Marra Vollmer depicted at the center of the label. The content includes a 7.5" die-cut card stock paper doll with eight (8) elaborate costumes and headdresses. The costumes depict her various roles with an applied label on reverse with the name of the character and the role. Includes Martha, Norma, Marie, Amine, Rosine, Elvira, Rosel and Angela. Box measures 9.5" by 7" (1822-1878) The singer's birth name was (depending on the spelling) Maria or Marie , Baroness von Hack (also: von Hacke/Haake ).

Around 1842 she chose the Italian-sounding stage name Marie von Marra , since her parents did not approve of her profession. During this time she took singing lessons in Vienna with the composer Gaetano Donizetti and excelled above all in the Italian singing form of bel canto . From 1843 she worked as a chamber singer in the court theater of the principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen . In 1845 she was one of the most important singers at the Vienna Court Opera. She then performed throughout Europe, especially in German-speaking countries, including guest appearances and longer stays in Pest, Prague, Berlin, Dresden, Breslau, Hamburg, Petersburg (Imperial Italian Opera, 1846), Riga, Danzig, K"nigsberg , Stuttgart, Amsterdam (1855-1858), London, Brussels, Italy. Since 1849 she has not entered into any more permanent engagements.