Léon Rothier (Bass) (Reims 1874 - New York 1951)

He began his career as a violinist, then studied singing at the Paris Conservatoire under Paul Lhérie. He made his debut in 1899 at the Paris Opéra-Comique as Jupiter in ‘’Philémon et Baucis’’ by Gounod. He remained active till 1907 at the Opéra-Comique, where he appeared on 2. 2. 1900 in the premiere of G. Charpentier’s ‘’Louise’’ and on 11. 4. 1900 in ‘’Le Juif Polonais’’ of Camille Erlanger. Since 1907 he worked not only at the opera houses of Marseille and Nice, but also in other French provincial theatres and at the Opera House in Monte Carlo. In 1910 he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, beginning a 30-year association with this opera house. In 1911 he sang there in the première of the opera "Ariane et Barbe-Bleue" by Dukas, in 1913 in ‘’Boris Godunov’’, in 1922 in ‘’Le Roi d'Ys’’ of Lalo. He sang at the Metropolitan Opera also in the premieres of the operas ‘’L'Oiseau blue’’ by Albert Wolff (27. 12. 1920) and ‘’Peter Ibbetson’’ of Deems Taylor (7. 2. 1931). In the 1918-1931 he made guest appearances at San Francisco Opera. He also sang at the Ravinia Summer Opera near Chicago. He was still fulfilling public singing engagements in New York City as late as 1949, at the Town Hall performance space. During the first marriage he was married with the soprano Mariette Mazarin (1877-1952) from whom he separated. His second marriage with contralto Maria Duchêne (*1884 - ?). At the age of 76 he entered the third marriage, however, died shortly after.

Chronology of some appearances

Le comte Des Grieux 1/28/1913, Le comte de Saint-Bris 3/25/1913, Ramfis 11/25/1913, Pimen 1/26/1915, 3/10/1914, Zuniga 4/20/1915, Ferrando 11/23/1915, Le comte Des Grieux 11/30/1915, Count des Grieux 11/30/1915, Tom 12/21/1915, Raimondo Bidebent 2/8/1916, Ramfis 6/6/1916, Un vieillard hébreu 11/28/1916, Ferrando 12/12/1916, Zuniga 1/9/1917, Pimen 4/17/1917, Zuniga 3/26/1918, Un vieillard hébreu 4/9/1918, Ferrando 4/16/1918, Il sultano di Khïatân 11/19/1918, Ferrando 3/4/1919, César 3/18/1919, Méphistophélès 4/15/1919, Le Cardinal de Brogni 11/30/1920, La père 3/8/1921, Sparafucile 3/15/1921, Ramfis 3/22/1921, Le comte Des Grieux 3/29/1921, Méphistophélès 4/12/1921, La père 12/6/1921, Le roi 1/10/1922, Un vieillard hébreu 4/18/1922, Frère Laurent 1/23/1923, Ded Moroz 3/27/1923, Le Grand Inquisiteur 4/17/1923, Le Grand-Prêtre de Brama 4/17/1923, Veit Pogner 12/11/1923, Le Grand Inquisiteur 1/22/1924, Le Grand-Prêtre de Brama 1/22/1924, Father 3/4/1924, Timour 3/18/1924, Ein Eremit 4/8/1924, Frère Laurent 2/17/1925, Veit Pogner 3/31/1925, Le Grand Inquisiteur 12/1/1925, Le Grand-Prêtre de Brama 12/1/1925, Le Cardinal de Brogni 2/16/1926, Veit Pogner 3/16/1926, Le Grand Inquisiteur 11/9/1926, Le Grand-Prêtre de Brama 11/9/1926, Lothario 4/12/1927, Alvise Badoero 11/1/1927, Colline 11/29/1927, Oroveso 12/27/1927, Dr. Miracle 2/14/1928, Archibaldo 2/21/1928, Sparafucile 3/20/1928, Le comte d’Oberthal 4/10/1928, Le Grand Inquisiteur 11/20/1928, Le Grand-Prêtre de Brama 11/20/1928, Le comte Des Grieux 1/1/1929, Pimen 3/12/1929, Veit Pogner 12/17/1929, Frère Laurent 1/28/1930, Méphistophélès 2/18/1930, La père 4/15/1930, Il Commendatore 12/9/1930, Méphistophélès 2/3/1931, Major Duquesnois 3/3/1931, Arkel 3/17/1931, Walter Furst 4/7/1931, Le comte Des Grieux 11/3/1931, Sparafucile 1/19/1932, Major Duquesnois 3/1/1932, Frère Laurent 3/29/1932, Arkel 1/31/1933, Sparafucile 2/7/1933, Le comte Des Grieux 3/7/1933, Méphistophélès 7/24/1933, 8/24/1933, Sparafucile 8/25/1933, Ramfis 8/26/1933, Colline 8/28/1933, Ramfis 9/1/1933, Méphistophélès 9/5/1933, Dr. Miracle 9/9/1933, Nilakantha 12/19/1933, Le comte Des Grieux 1/30/1934, Frère Laurent 2/20/1934, Raimondo Bidebent 3/6/1934 (Filadelfia).

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Victor, New York 1914-04-03

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): La rivedrò nell'estasi with Caruso, Hempel, de Segurola & chorus 89077 C14659

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): È scherzo od è follia with Caruso, Hempel, Duchêne, de Segurola & chorus 89076 C14660

Columbia, New York 1916-03-16

Zauberflöte (Mozart): O Isis et Osiris A5812 48632

Caïd (Thomas): Air du tambour-major A5876 48634

Columbia, New York 1916-03-27

Don Carlo (Verdi): Ella giammai m'amo A5812 48659