Rose Heilbronner (Soprano) (Paris 1984 - ?)

Their family came from Elsass. She studied singing under Mme Martini and Rose Bauer in Paris. She made her debut in 1907 at Opéra-Comique in Paris as Diana in ‘’Iphigénie en Aulide’’ of Gluck. Till 1912 she remained a member of the Opéra-Comique and sang there roles like Eurydice in ‘’Orpheus’’ of Gluck, Micaela in ‘’Carmen’’, Rosenn in ‘’Le Roi d'Ys’’ of  Lalo, Pamina in ‘’Magic flute’’ and Donna Elvira in ‘’ Don of Giovanni’’. In 1911 she made guest appearance at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Airesperforming in Massenet’s ‘’Grisélidis’’. After 1912 she appeared at different French opera houses and was to be found above all in Nice and at the Opera House of Monte Carlo. On 3. 12. 1912 she sang at  the Opera House of Nancy in the premiere of the opera ‘’Le Pays’’ of Guy Ropartz. With outbreak of the First World War she interrupted her career and worked as nurse. Nevertheless, in 1917 she sang again in Bordeaux, Marseille, Genevaand Nantes, in 1918 she appeared in Algiers and Tunis. In  the 1919-22 seasons was engaged by the the Théâtre de la Monnaie of Brussels. Here among other things she appeard in the première of the opera ‘’La Fille de Roland’’ of  H. Rabaud. In 1922 she made guest appearance at Toulouse (sang in the première of the opera ‘’La Hulla’’ of  Rousseau), then also at Vichy, San Sebastian and Deauville. She had a huge success with the Concerts Lamoureux in Paris and till 1930 gave a recitals. During the 1930’s she withdrew from the stage.

Chronology of some appearances

1907-1912 Paris Opéra-Comique Debut Iphigénie en Aulide (Diana)

1911 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Grisélidis (Grisélidis)

1912 Nancy Opera House Le Pays

1919-1922 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie

1922 Toulouse Opera House La Hulla (-)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Edison, Paris 1910?

Bohème (Puccini): On m'appelle Mimì 17124, BA 27097

Galathee (Masse): Aimons, il faut aimer with Payan 17128 BA 27098

Manon (Massenet): Adieu, notre petite table Unpubl.

Odeon, Paris 1910-01-01

Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d'arte 97562

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Voi lo sapete 97564

Gramophone, Paris 1911-01-10

Faust (Gounod): Le jour va luire with Beyle and Payan 034092 01818v

Faust (Gounod): Oui, c'est toi, je t'aime with  Beyle 034090 01816v

Faust (Gounod): Divine pureté with Beyle and Payan 034091 01817v

Gramophone, Paris1911-12-02

Fille du Régiment (Donizetti): Salut à la France, pt 1 033146 02239½v

Fille du Régiment (Donizetti): Pt 2 033147 02240v

 Gramophone, Paris 1912-12-17

Galathée (Massé): Aimons, il faut aimer with Cerdan 034173 02628v

Galathée (Massé): Et maintenant de toi j'implore with Cerdan 034190 02629v

Odeon, Paris 1913?

Cendrillon (Massenet): Viens, nous quitterons cette ville with Payan 111585

Manon (Massenet): Toi...Vous with  Vezzani 111594 XP6074

Idéal, Paris 1913?

Noces de Jeannette (Masse): Cours, mon aiguille 6194

Auguste Minvielle (Tenor) (1881 - 1905)

He made his debut in 1902. In 1903 he appeared at Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique as Jean Vasari in "La reine Fiammette" of Xavier Leroux. The next year he sang at the same opera house in Gluck’s ‘’Alceste’’. He had a short career, because he died very young. He made only two records.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique La reine Fiammette (Jean Vasari)

1904 Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique Alceste (1°coryphée)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Dutreih cylinders, Paris 1903?

Faust (Gounod): Trio with  Tanésy and Chambon  150699 13503

Otokar Chmel (Baritone) (Prague 1879 – Prague ? 1957)

                                                                  Amonasro

He was a pupil of the pedagogue F. Hynkain Prague and he made his debut in 1903 at the the National Theatre  of Praguein ‘’Lohengrin’’. He remained active till 1905 in this opera house, then went to Germany and appeared from 1905-08 at  Lortzing-Theater of Berlin, from 1908-10 he sang at Volksoper of Vienna. He returned to Prague and from 1911-19 he was a member of the the National Theatre  of Prague. Here he sang roles like the Rigoletto, Amonasro in ‘’Aida’’, Hans Sachs in ‘’Meistersingers’’, Vladislav in ‘’Dalibor’’ of Smetana, Ismen in ‘’Armida’’ of A. Dvořák. His brother, the baritone Vása Chmel (1871-1942), appeared primarily as a concert singer.

Chronology of some appearances

1903-1905 Prague National Theatre  Debut Lohengrin (-)

1905-1908 Berlin Lortzing-Theater  

1908-1910 Vienna Volksoper 

1911-1919 Prague National Theatre 

RECORDING FOR SALE

Ultraphon 

Čertova stena  (Smetana): Jen jediná  C13001 43346

Maurice Vallade (Tenor)

Probably he sang at Opera-Comique in Paris. He appeared at the Concerts Lamoureux.

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Lioret cylinders, 1898-1900
Otello (Verdi): Tout m'abandonne 86
Le Prophète (Meyerbeer): Pour Bertha 101

Pathé cylinders, Paris 1902? (G&B: 1898-1900)
Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna e mobile 207
Faust (Gounod): Trio final with Fournets and Tanésy 759

Vera Klopotovskaya (Soprano) (Podolie 1873 - ?)

She studied singing at Kazan under L. Lutsenko. Since 1895 she appeared at Kazan, Moscow(The Private Russian Opera, Theatre ‘’Hermitage’’ 1897/98, Theatre of Solodovnikov 1903-1904, S. Zimin’s Opera House 1904/1906 and 1908/1911), St. Petersburg (Theatre ‘’Arkadia’’, The New Summer Theatre ‘’Olimpia’’ 1903, National House 1911/1912), Kiev (1906/1907), Rostov-on-Don (1907—08), Ekaterinburg (1912—13). After her retirement she thought  singing at the Music School of Omsk.

Chronology of some appearances

1897/98 The Private Russian Opera, Theatre ‘’Hermitage’’

1903 Theatre ‘’Arkadia’’, The New Summer Theatre ‘’Olimpia’’

1903-1904 Theatre of Solodovnikov

1904/1906 S. Zimin’s Opera House

1908/1911 S. Zimin’s Opera House

1911/1912 National House

RECORDING FOR SALE

G&T, Moscow 1903

Aida (Verdi): Pur ti riveggo with Alexander Matveev 024008 134Hp

Erik Schmedes (Tenor) (Gentofte, Denmark 1868 – Austria, Vienna 1931)

His brother Hakon Schmedes became later a known violinist, another brother, Paul Schmedes (1869-1930), became a successful concert tenor. Erik at first studied piano in Copenhagen, then he received his musical education in 1888 at Berlin. Then on suggestion of Pauline Viardot-Garcia he started to study singing. First he studied under Nikolaus Rothmühl in Berlin, then with Johannes Ress in Vienna as well as by Mariano Padilla y Ramos in Paris. He made his debut as baritone in 1891 at the Court Theatre of Wiesbaden as Valentin in ‘’Faust’’. Since 1893 he sang at the Municipal Theatre of Nuremberg, where he remained till 1896. Then, nevertheless, the manager of the Hamburg Opera, Bernhard Pollini, discovered his tenor, and after renewed study with August Iffert in Dresden he appeared in  the 1896-97 season at the Dresden Court Opera as a heroic tenor. In 1898 he was engaged by the Vienna Court Opera, where he made his debut as Siegfried in Wagner's ‘’Siegfried’’. Longer than 25 years he was the favorite tenor of the of Vienna Court Opera’s audience. In 1908 he performed at the Viennapremière of d'Albert’s opera ‘’Tiefland’’in the title role of Pedro, in 1919 he sang the title part in the première of  Pfitzner’s ‘’Palestrina’’, in 1914 he already sang the title role in the première of the Wagner’s ‘’Parsifal’’. In 1910 he appeared there in the premiere of the opera "Der Musikant"  of Julius Bittner. Famous he became by his Wagner's parts, but also as Florestan in ‘’Fidelio’’ and as Palestrina in Pfitzner’s ‘’'Palestrina’’. In 1899 and in the 1901-02 season and again in 1906 he appeared at the Bayreuth Festival, where he had great success in Wagner’s ‘’Siegfried’’ and ‘’Parsifal’’. In the 1908-09 season he sang at the MetropolitanOpera of New York (beginning part: Siegmund in ‘’Walküre’’). In 1908 he sang there the role of Pedro in the American première of the opera ‘’Tiefland’’ of E. d'Albert. In 1924 he retired from the stage appearing for the last time as Matthias in ‘’Evangelimann’’ of Kienzl at the Vienna State Opera and then  he worked as a pedagogue at Vienna. One of his pupils was famous soprano Maria Müller. His daughter Dagmar Schmedes was a known soprano.

Chronology of appearance

1891 Wiesbaden Court TheatreFaust (Valentin)

1893-1896 Nuremberg Municipal Theatre

1896-1897 Dresden Court Opera

1898 Vienna Court Opera Siegfried (Siegfried)

1908 Vienna Court Opera Tiefland (Pedro)

1919 Vienna Court Opera Palestrina (Palestrina)

1908  New York  Metropolitan Opera Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Wien 1902-06?

Evangelimann (Kienzl): Selig sind, die Verfolgung leiden42708 2377B

Evangelimann (Kienzl): Selig sind, die Verfolgung leiden42821 883x

Lohengrin (Wagner): Höchstes Vertrau'n 42820 879x

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land 2-42008 2379B

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land 42897 882x

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend 2-42519 881x

Rheingold (Wagner) Soweit Leben und Weben (Loges Erzählung)  42998 878x

Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond 42819 877x

G&T, Wien 1903-08?

Lohengrin (Wagner): Atmest du nicht 2-42579 758z

Lohengrin (Wagner): Nun sei bedankt (Schwanenlied) 2-42078 975'c

Rienzi (Wagner): Erstehe, hohe Roma 2-42574 757z

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Am stillen Herd 2-42757 885½z

Siegfried (Wagner): Schmiede, mein Hammer (Schmiedelied) 2-42731 886z

G&T, Wien 1904-10

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Sextett with Elizza, Lukschic, Preuss,Weidemann, Mayr and chorus 44432 2444h

Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905?

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Lache, Bajazzo 19241

Rienzi (Wagner): Erstehe, hohe Roma 19242

Siegfried (Wagner): Schmiedelied 19246

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Am stillen Herd 19248

Favorite, Wien 1905-04-05

Lohengrin (Wagner): Mein lieber Schwan (Abschied) 1-25030 772-f

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Scherzet nur immer (Un tal gioco) 1-25029 771-f

Walküre (Wagner): Winterstürme 1-25046 773-f

G&T, Wien 1905-12?

Trovatore (Verdi): Terzetto Hermine Kittel, Elizza Elise 2-44027 651r

Norma (Bellini): Was mich kräftigt (w. chorus) 3-42461 700r

Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky): Beherrschest du mein Fühlen 3-42504 804r

Rienzi (Wagner): Erstehe, hohe Roma with chorus  3-42414 702r

Trovatore (Verdi): O Gott, du schweigst with Elizza and Kittel 2-44027 651r

G&T, Wien 1906-05/06

Morgenhymne (Henschel) 3-42561 4130L

Winterlied (Koss) 3-42618 4132L

Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Er fiel, er starb with Stehmann and Hesch 2-44109 4272L

Evangelimann (Kienzl): Selig sind, die Verfolgung leiden3-42597 4239L

Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land 042132 269m

G&T, Wien 1906-12?

Prophet (Meyerbeer): Trinklied 3-42723

Königin von Saba (Goldmark): Du Ew'ger, der mein Aug' gelichtet 3-42774 9997u

Muette de Portici (Auber): Barcarole 3-42756 9998u

Prophète (Meyerbeer): Trinklied 3-42723 9928u

G&T, Wien 1907

Parsifal (Wagner): Nur eine Waffe taugt 3-42852 10918u

Siegfried (Wagner): Nothung! (Schmiedelied) 4-42024 11964u

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns): Israel werde frei 3-42890 10920u

Parsifal (Wagner): Nur eine Waffe taugt 3-42852 10918u

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns): Ist der Herr nicht bei dir 3-42854 10919u

Siegfried (Wagner): Schmiede, mein Hammer (Schwertlied) 4-42034 11748u

Götterdämmerung (Wagner): Mime hiess (Erzählung) 4-42025 11965u

Gramophone, Wien 1908

Tiefland (d'Albert): Ich grüss' noch einmal meine Berge 4-42132

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): So stürben wir with Bland 2-44411 13156u

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): O sink' hernieder with Bland 2-44412 13157u

Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-16

Götterdämmerung (Wagner): Brünnhilde, heilige Braut  4-42337 15109u

Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-16

Götterdämmerung (Wagner): Zu neuen Taten with Weidt 044143 01197v

Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-27

Lohengrin (Wagner): Das süsse Lied verhallt with Elizza 3-44077 15043u

Gramophone, Wien 1910-10-28

Tannhäuser (Wagner): Da sah ich ihn 042291 2072c

Tannhauser (Wagner): Inbrunst im Herzen 042291 2072c

Favorite, Wien 1912?

Lohengrin (Wagner): Abschied 1-25036x 5252-t

Lohengrin (Wagner): Gralserzählung 1-25035x 5251-t

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Preislied 1-25034x 5250-t

Tosca (Puccini): Und es blitzten die Sterne 1-25042x 5256-t

Tosca (Puccini): Wie sich die Bilder 1-25041x 5255-t

Walküre (Wagner): Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond 1-25033x 5249-t

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Jetzt spielen 1-25039x 5254-t

Evangelimann (Kienzl): Selig sind die Verfolgung leiden1-25040x 5257-t

Jeanne Rousselière (Soprano) (Paris 1878 – Paris 1953)

Her real name was Jeanne Suzanne Huchet. She studied at the  Paris Conservatoireand in 1901 made her debut at Opéra-Comique as Colette in Messager’s ‘’La Basoche’’. She appeared at Opéra-Comique in ‘’Lakme’’, ‘’Werther’’, ‘’Manon’’  and ‘’Mireille’’.. In 1903 she performed in the premiere of the opera ‘’ La petite maison’’ of Chaumet. Her husband was the famous tenor Charles Rousselière.

Chronology of some appearances

1901 Paris Opéra-ComiqueLa Basoche (Colette)

1903 Paris Opéra-ComiqueLa petite maison (Babet)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Paris 1903

Mireille (Gounod): O Magali with Charles Rousselière  34009 1712F
Manon (Massenet): Adieu, notre petite table with Charles Rousseliere 33314 1797F

Consuelo Escobar De Castro (Soprano) (San Luis Potosi, Mexico 1895 - ?)

She studied singing in Mexico City and made her debut in there in 1916 as Gilda in ‘’Rigoletto’’. Since 1920 she had great success at the Summer Opera of Ravinia near Chicago, where she appeared in ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’, ‘’Elisir d'amore’’, ‘’Don Pasquale’’, ‘’Barbiere di Siviglia’’ ' and ‘’Mignon’’. In the 1923-24 season she traveled to North America was a member of the the San Carlo Opera Company. Several times she was engaged by the Opera House of Mexico City, where she was highly acclaimed. In Italy she guested at the Teatro Lirico in Milan. Later she founded in Mexico Citya singing studio. She was married the Mexican tenor Carlos de Castro Padilla (1889 Mexico City - Mexico City 1938).

Chronology of appearance

1916 Mexico City Opera House Rigoletto (Gilda)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Edison, New York 1919-01

Canción delruiseñor (Penella) 76007 6547

René Verdière (Tenor) (Frameries, Belgique 1895 – Le Mont-d’Or 1862)

He enlisted in 1917 as a volunteer. Immediately after the war, he continued his vocal studies at the MusicSchool in Calais, and then at the Conservatoire National in Paris. In 1926 he made his debüt at Grand Opéra in Paris as Max in ‘’Der Freischütz’’. He subsequently had a long career at both the Grand Opéra and (from 1930) at the Opéra-Comique. There, he participated in the original production in 1935 of ‘’Gargantua’’ by Antoine Mariotte, among other works. He made many successful guest appearances, notably at Covent Garden and at the Opera in Monte Carlo. At Convent Gardenin 1936 he substituted for as Julien in Charpentier's ‘’Louise’’. Throughout his career he specialized in heroic roles in the French repertory and in Wagner. In 1940 he was called up as a soldier, and was able to resume his career at the Opéra Comique only in 1945. He later returned to the Grand Opéra. In 1948 and 1949 he made guest appearances at the Opera in Monte Carlo as Dmitri in ‘’Boris Godunov’’. In 1953 he played the role of Adario in the glamorous premiere of the baroque opera ‘’Les Indes galantes’’ by Rameau. In 1959 he retired from the stage to teach in Paris. 

Chronology of some appearances

1926 Paris Grand Opéra Der Freischütz (Max)

1930 Paris Opéra-Comique

1935 Paris Opéra-Comique Gargantua (-)

1936 London Convent Garden Louise (Julien)

1945 Paris Opéra-Comique

1948 Monte Carlo Opera House

1949 Monte Carlo Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris  1929-09-27

La Juive (Halevy): Dieu, que ma voix tremblante 188034 Ki 2640

Odeon, Paris 1929-11-30

Lohengrin (Wagner): Recit du Graal 123020 xxP 6958

Siegfried (Wagner): Chant de forge 123020  xxP 6959

Odeon, Paris 1930-01-21

Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Asil hereditaire  188041 Ki 2886

Odeon, Paris 1930-02-04

Die Walküre (Wagner): Siegmund suis-je with  Germaine Lubin 123683 xxP 7023

Rose Caron (Soprano) (Monnerville 1857 - Paris 1930)

She began her education in 1882 at the Paris Conservatoire under Tharset and then with Marie Sasse. She married quite young the pianist M. Caron and appeared during her whole career under this name (although she had separated from M. Caron). In 1880 she gave in Paris her first concert; her stage debut took place in 1883 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie of Brusselsas Alice in ‘’Robert le Diable’’ of Meyerbeer. She sang on 7. 1. 1884 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie of Brussels in the premiere of the opera ‘’Sigurd’’ of  Reyer (as Brunehild). She appeared in Brusselsamong other things as Valentina in ‘’Huguenots’’, Marguerite in ‘’Faust’’ of Gounod, Rachel in ‘’La Juive’’ of Halévy, Norma and Eva in ‘’Meistersingers’’ (1885, in French language). In 1885 she was engaged by the Grand Opéra of Paris. The composer Ernest Reyer had insisted on the fact that she created the Brunehild there in the première of his opera ‘’Sigurd’’. Here she sang in 1887 roles like Rachel, Valentina, Marguerite in ‘’Faust’’ and Cathérine in ‘’Henri VIII’’ of  Saint-Saëns. She went again to the Théâtre de la Monnaie of Brussels, where she appeared  now on 25. 2. 1888 in the premiere of the opera ‘’Jocelyn’’ of Godard as Lawrence and appeared on 10. 2. 1890 in the premiere of the Reyer’s ‘’Salammbô’’. In 1890 she appeared at the Grand Opéra, and now she sang there with triumphs, in particular as a Wagnerian soprano. She created at the Grand Opéra in 1891 the role of Elsa in ‘’Lohengrin’’, in 1892 the role of Sieglinde  in ‘’ Walkure’’, in 1894 Desdemona in Verdi’s ‘’Otello’’ and in 1896 the title role in the premiere of the opera ‘’Helle’’ of Duvernoy. Till 1897 she belonged to the ensemble of the Grand Opera in Paris, where she was still to be heard till 1909. In 1894 she appeared there in the premiere of the opera ‘’Djelma’’ of Charles Lefebvre. In 1892 she sang at the Opéra-Comique of Paris among other things in ‘’Orpheus’’ of Gluck, then also the title role in ‘’Iphigénie en Tauride’’ of  Gluck (1900) and the Leonore in ‘’Fidelio’’ (1898). In  the 1898-1902 seasons she made guest appearances at the Opera House of Monte Carlo appearing in ‘’Amy Robsart’’, ‘’Fidelio’’, ‘’Otello’’, ‘’La damnation de Faust’’ and ‘’Lohengrin’’ (1902). From 1901-09 she worked as a professor at the Paris Conservatoire. She made 7 records for Zonophone (1902) and Odeon (1904).

Chronology of some appearances

1883 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie Robert le Diable (Alice)

1884 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie Sigurd (Brunehild)

1885 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie Meistersingers (Eva)

1885 Paris Grand Opéra

1888 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie Jocelyn

1890 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie Salammbô

1890 Paris Grand Opéra

1891 Paris Grand Opéra Lohengrin (Elsa)

1892 Paris Opéra-Comique Orpheus (-)

1892 Paris Grand Opéra Walkure (Sieglinde)

1894 Paris Grand Opéra Otello (Desdemona)

1896 Paris Grand Opéra Helle (-)

1897-1909 Paris Grand Opéra

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Zonophone, Paris 1902 (late).

Sigurd (Reyer): Des présents de Günther X-2094

Myrto (Delibes) X-2096

Fonotipia, Paris 1904-12-20

Prière (Gounod) 39096 XPh521

Hellé (Duvernoy): Cantilène 39114 XPh522

Sigurd (Reyer): Des présents de Günther 39097 XPh523

Edward Lankow (Bass) (Tarrytown, N.Y. in 1883 – New York 1940)

The real name of this singer was Edward Rosenberg. He studied singing at New Yorkwith the famous German pedagogue Anna Lankow, whose name he accepted after the education. In 1904 he made his debut as a concert singer; in 1905 he took part as assistant artist in an Americatour of the famous Adelina Patti. Then he came to Europe and in the 1906-08 seasons became a member of the Court Opera of Dresden. From 1908 to 1910 he sang at the Opera House of Frankfurt a. M., in the 1910-11 season he performed at the Vienna Court Opera. In 1912 he was engaged by the Boston Opera House, then he appeared at the Metropolitan Opera of  New York (beginning role: Sarastro in the ‘’Magic Flute’’ opposte Emmy Destinn, Leo Slezak and Otto Goritz). He sang this part there in the 1912-13 season 5 times. Later he was active mainly as a concert and oratorio singer. In the 1921-22 season he appeared at Chicago Opera House in ‘’Tristan und Isolde’’ (as King Mark) and then made guest apperarance at the Opéra-Comique of Paris. He retired from the stage early and became a pedagogue in New York.

Chronology of some appearances

1906-1908 Dresden Court Opera

1908- 1910 Frankfurta. M. Opera House

1910-1911 Vienna Court Opera

1912 Boston Opera House

1912-1913 New York Metropolitan Opera

1921-1922 Chicago Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Berlin 1908

Zauberflöte (Mozart): In diesen heil'gen Hallen 4-42014 6820L

Juive (Halévy): Wenn ew'ger Hass (Cavatine) 4-42015 6821L

HMV, Paris 1926-10-26

Zauberflöte (Mozart): Isis c'est l'heure 4-32744 BFR178

Juive (Halévy): Si la rigueur 4-32745 BFR179

Jean Riddez (Baritone) (1875 – 1939)

Till 1897 he studied singing at the conservatoire of his hometown Lille, then from 1897 to 1900 additionally at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1900 he was engaged by the Grand Opéra in Parisand made his debut there as Rigoletto in Verdi’s ‘’Rigoletto’’. Till 1910 he remained active in this opera house. He appeared there from 1908 to 1910 tenor parts like Faust and Lohengrin, but  then returned however again to his baritone repertoire. After guest performances in French theaters he went to USA and sang in the 1911-12 season at Boston Opera House among other things the role of Pelléas in ‘’Pelléas et Mélisande’’, Athanaël in ‘’Thaïs’’ of  Massenet, Escamillo in ‘’Carmen’’, Lescaut in ‘’Manon Lescaut’’ of Puccini, Scarpia in ‘’Tosca’’.. Then he also appeared as a member of the Montreal Opera Company, where he was to be heard in operas ‘’Hérodiade’’ and ‘’Le jongleur de Notre Dame’’ of Massenet. Returning to France, he sang during five seasons at the Opera House of Lyon and worked afterwards as a pedagogue at the conservatoire there. In 1920 he appeared in Montrealagain as Athanaël in ‘’Thaïs’’ and remained active in the end as a pedagogue in Montreal. His daughter Juanita Riddez was a famous dramatic soprano.

Chronology of some appearances

1900-1910 Paris Grand Opéra  Rigoletto (Rigoletto) (Debut)

1911-1912 Boston Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Bettini Cylinders 1902?

Hamlet (Thomas): O vin dissipe la tristesse

Henri VIII (Saint-Saens): Qui donc commande

Charles VI (Halevy); C'est grand' pitié