Description

ERNEST TILKIN-SERVAIS (BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 28 MAY, 1888 – ? 1961)

His real name was Ernest Servais. His family came from Lüttich (Liège). He was a violinist before becoming a singer; however, he was also a gifted sculptor and graduated from the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. He then became a pupil of the pedagogue Désiré Demest at the Conservatoire of Brussels.

From 1910, he appeared as a concert singer, touring early in his career across France, Holland, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil. In 1913, he sang for the first time at the Opera House of Lyon. During the First World War, he performed in Brussels at the Trocadéro and the Théâtre de la Bourse.

In 1918, he was engaged by the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he remained as the first baritone for the next ten years. In 1919, he created the role of Ali in the première of Henri Rabaud’s opera Marouf, savetier du Caire.

In 1926, he made a guest appearance at Covent Garden, performing alongside Maria Jeritza in Massenet’s Thaïs and also singing the role of the Grand-Prêtre in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila. At Monte Carlo on February 13, 1926, he created the role of Holofernes in the premiere of Arthur Honegger’s opera Judith.

He frequently made guest appearances in Holland, where he performed roles in Verdi’s Rigoletto and Il Trovatore. Following the tragic death of his only son, Servais retired early from the stage and dedicated himself to teaching at the Conservatoire in Brussels.

Chronology of some appearances

1913 Lyon Opera House

1918 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie

TRACKLIST

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) Ballde d’Adamastor 032379 03345v Gramophone, Paris 1920-04-25
2. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Et c’est toi qui déchires mon âme 032380 03342v Gramophone, Paris 1920-04-25
3. Carmen (Bizet) Je suis Escamillo (w. Ansseau) DB880 CL39-1 Gramophone, Paris 1924-10-01
4. Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Devant la maison (Sérénade) P533 BP296-2 Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-01
5. Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Esprits des flammes P533 BP295-2 Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-01
6. Ich grolle nicht (Schumann) (Fr) DA4703 Gramophone, Paris
7. Lakmé (Delibes) Stances AU30 2B458-2 Gramophone, 1931
8. Le régiment de Sambre et Meuse (Planquette) AT26 Gramophone, Paris
9. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Prologue AU30 2B459-1 Gramophone, 1931
10. Traviata (Verdi) Lorsqu’à de folles amours 032378 Ho4515af Gramophone, London 1920-08-28
11. Trovatore (Verdi) C’est l’ordre que le fils soit puni (w. Roger) W715 CL198-2 Gramophone, Paris 1924-12-10
12. Trovatore (Verdi) Sauvé! Bonheur divin (w. Roger) W715 CL199-1 Gramophone, Paris 1924-12-10
13. Vers l’avenir (Gevaert) AT26 Gramophone, Paris