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Countess Lucienne von Doz has known the sweet smell of success. Now she helps others achieve their dreams in the form of a foundation for young opera singers.
Born in New York, von Doz married an Austrian count at age 20. He swathed her in Cartier and had her personally fitted by Coco Chanel. She shared his box at La Scala, Milan’s world-renowned opera house, where they watched their friend Maria Callas perform and von Doz fell in love with the art form.
She became the face of "Crème de La Mer" skin cream. For 20 years, she has led the Singers Development Foundation (SDF) to help young singers begin their careers. She has counted opera luminaries such as Luciano Pavarotti, Marilyn Horne and Renée Fleming among her friends and supporters.
"We don’t take anyone that’s not world-class. I won’t compromise."
Born in New York City she studied here and abroad. There she was to marry an Austrian count who saw that she was gowned by the top couturiers of Paris-including Coco Chanel and Madame Grés, jeweled by Cartier and Boucheron, and taken off to party with the aristocracy and glitterati of Europe and Hollywood. But the Countess, restless with the protocols of this world, ended the union in divorce.
She returned to the states to become the 'face' and spokesperson for Crème de le Mer. Continuing her love of music, and counting among her friends Pavorotti, Renée Fleming, Joan Sutherland, and Marilyn Horn she began The Singers Development Foundation, a not-for-profit organization to foster the careers of promising young opera singers.
Her first published novel, The Seventh Ceiling, a rags-to-riches story of international cosmetics, contains in fictionalized form much of these experiences.
In the LUCIENNE line she has turned her energy, talent and time to creating unique products for the discerning woman of today.
Profits from book and product sales go to The Singers Development Foundation.
The Singers Development Foundation
The Singers Development Foundation was launched in 1991. Its mission statement includes the granting of funds as well as practical help for young opera singers at a particularly needful period in their career between academia and a full career on the opera stages of the U.S. and Europe.
The practical help includes grants for coaching, vocal lessons, and audition tours. Between 2008 and 2009 more than eight of its grantees appeared in major roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and there were numerous such performances on the opera stages of Europe and South America.
The Foundation is fortunate in its artistic board which includes among others:
Marilyn Horne
Luciano Pavarotti (in memoriam)
Dame Joan Sutherland
Renata Scotto
Thomas Hampson
Natalie Dessay
