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