Simone Rapin, 1901-1988, writer

Born on June 16, 1901, in Lausanne, Switzerland, and passed away on July 20, 1988, in Geneva, Simone Rapin was a versatile artist, encompassing roles as an actress, singer, writer, poet, and teacher.

Hailing from Payerne, Simone Rapin grew up in a cultured environment immersed in the arts. Her father was a lawyer, and her mother, whose background remains unknown, instilled in her a love for singing. Her aunt, Aimée Rapin, was a renowned artist despite being born without arms, an inspiring figure whom Simone Rapin greatly admired. In 1978, she wrote a biography about her aunt titled “À propos d’Aimée Rapin, peintre sans bras” (Regarding Aimée Rapin, Painter Without Arms).

Simone Rapin’s passion for poetry emerged at an early age, leading her to pursue studies in literature at the University of Lausanne and the Sorbonne in Paris. However, at the age of 20, she embraced her inclination for theater, stating, “I was born a tragedian; no one knows why.” She initially performed on various stages in Paris and Switzerland before embarking on a successful career as a lyric tragedian and exploring recital forms without orchestral accompaniment from 1932 onwards. In 1936, she organized concerts of contemporary Austrian music in Paris and subsequently performed across European stages until 1939 when she returned to Switzerland. She continued to perform for a few more years but, due to certain life circumstances, decided to conclude her career as a singer and actress. She relocated from Lausanne to Geneva and devoted herself to teaching at a drama school and to poetry.

Simone Rapin published her first poetry collection, “Une jeune fille juive” (A Young Jewish Girl), in 1955. In the November 1958 edition of “Feuilles musicales,” the collection was praised for immediately revealing her exceptional talent. This marked the beginning of a prolific period of publications, where Simone Rapin showcased her writing skills in poetry (which constituted the majority of her work), theater, and essays. She received multiple awards, including the Prix interfrance de poésie classique in 1957, the Prix international des poètes de France in 1960, the Prix des écrivains genevois for 1976-1977, and the Plume d’or 1987 from the Société genevoise des écrivains. A revered tragedian and recognized poet, Simone Rapin passed away in Geneva on July 20, 1988.

Biography: Jade Sercomanens