Juan De Casenave (Tenor) (Madrid, Spain 1888 - Buenos Aires, Argentina 6. 12 1961)

He was born into a French-Spanish family, originally from Orthez, Pyrenaen. He studied engineering science in Germany, in addition, also music, singing and piano playing. In 1906 he came to Spain and studied singing under the famous baritone Ignacio Tabuyo. He made his debut in 1913 at the Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao as Almaviva in G. Rossini's ''Il Barbiere di Siviglia'' (opposite Angeles Ottein as Rosina). Here he appeared the next year as De Grieux in ‘’Manon’’. Then he sang with great success at the Teatro Madrid as lyric tenor (among other things as De Grieux in ''Manon'' and Rodolfo in ‘’La Boheme’’). He also performed at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona as well as in 1923 at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in Lisbon. On 17.10.1923 he appeared at the Teatro Apolo in Madrid in the premiere of the Zarzuela ‘’Dona Francisquita’’ of A. Vives. The same theater he appeared in 1923 with greaty success in the Zarzuela ‘’Marina’’ of Emilio Arrieta. During the 1920’s he was one of the most popular Zarzuela singers in Spain. . Then he went to Argentina, where he continued his stage career. He appeared in Buenos Aires, (Teatro Victoria, Teatro el Mayo, La Comedia, Teatro El Nacional, Teatro Colon/in a concert), Rosario, Cordoba, La Rioja, Mexico City. His operatic repertoire included Faust in C. Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’, Rodolfo in ‘’La Boheme’’, Almaviva in ‘’Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’, Alfredo in ‘’La Traviata’’ and Cavaradossi in ‘’Tosca’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1913 Bilbao  Teatro Arriaga Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1914 Bilbao  Teatro Arriaga Manon (De Grieux)
1918  San Sebastián Victoria Eugenia La Boheme (Rodolfo)
1920 Madrid Teatro Real Los Bohemios (-)

1923 Madrid Teatro Apollo Dona Francisquita (Fernando Soler)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Barcelona 1919 
Balada de carnaval (Vives): Dúo de Margarita y Franz W 64444 S 20528 U

Odeon, Barcelona 1922
Tosca (Puccini): O dolci mani 57532

Odeon, Barcelona 1927
Doña Francisquita (Vives): Dúo 1ª parte with Cora Raga 139793
Doña Francisquita (Vives): Dúo 2ª parte with Cora Raga  139794
Doña Francisquita (Vives): Dúo with Cora Raga A 77094 XXS 2115