DURAND, Marie, singer, born in Charleston, South Carolina, about 1850. She was educated in New York, studying music with Signor Achille Errani, and made her first appearance in Chicago as Zerlina ill " Don Giovanni." After continuing her musical studies for some years, she appeared at the imperim opera in St. Petersburg, and then sang in French opera in Brussels. Returning to the United States, she was seen in New Orleans, but, went to Italy and sang at Milan and elsewhere. She was induced to leave light soprano parts and devote herself to those great dramatic representations in which she has since achieved distinction, such as Selika in " L'Africaine." Later she became known for her brilliant performances in "Les Huguenots," " Norma," "Robert le Diable," and "Roi de Lahore." In 1883 she made her first appearance at the royal Italian opera in London, in the Isle of La Gioconde, of which she was the first exponent outside of Italy. She was then engaged for the entire opera season in St. Petersburg, but in April 1884, returned to London to sing" in Covent Garden.