BiographyDésirée Artôt, in full Marguerite-Joséphine-Désirée Montagney Artôt, (born July 21, 1835, Paris, France—died April 3, 1907, Berlin, Ger.), Belgian mezzo-soprano, member of a famous family of musicians. Acclaimed in France as an opera singer, she suddenly married (1869) the Spanish baritone Mariano Padilla y Ramos (1842–1906) while briefly engaged to Tchaikovsky. Her daughter Lola Artôt de Padilla (1885–1933), a soprano whom she trained, became a prima donna with the Royal Opera, Berlin (1909–27). "Désirée Artôt." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 7 July 18. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Desiree-Artot.