rose fréart was born in saint-riquier. her father was a sugar industrialist. shortly after the birth of his daughter, he returned to his hometown of argenton-sur-creuse, where rose féart spent her entire childhood. she was introduced to music by the organist of , anselme picardeau, who detected the child's vocal qualities. sent to paris to continue her musical studies, she won the first prize of the conservatoire de musique in lyrical declamation on 2 august 1902, at the age of 24.