Description

JEAN NOTÉ (TOURNAI, 6 MAY, 1858 – BRUSSELS, 1 APRIL, 1922)

Initially a railroad employee, his vocal talent was discovered during his military service, leading to a patron financing his musical education at the conservatory of Ghent. His public debut took place in Ghent in 1883, and he made his operatic debut in 1885 at the opera house of Lille, performing the role of Lord Enrico Ashton in Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti.

He continued to gain recognition with performances at opera houses in Ghent (1886), Antwerp (1887-89), and Lyon (1888-91). By 1892-93, he was performing at the opera house of Marseille. One of his significant career milestones was his involvement with the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he became a regular performer from 1887 onwards, achieving notable success. He also participated in the world premiere of Alfred Bruneau’s opera Messidor on February 19, 1897, at the Théâtre de la Monnaie.

In 1893, he debuted at the Grand Opéra of Paris as Rigoletto, where he enjoyed a career that spanned over 30 years. He notably created the role of Donner in Das Rheingold (1909) and Alberich in Siegfried (1901), both in French. Additionally, at the Monte Carlo Opera, he participated in premieres of Eugène d’Harcourt’s Le Tasse (February 14, 1903) and Massenet’s Roma (February 17, 1912).

Even in the later stages of his career, he remained active, appearing in the 1921 premiere of Gabriel Dupont’s opera Antar at the Grand Opéra.

Chronology of some appearances

1885 Lille Opera house Lucia di Lammermoor (Lord Enrico Ashton)

1893 Paris Grand Opera Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1901 Paris Grand Opera Rheingold (Donner)

1903 Paris Grand Opera Siegfried (Alberich)

TRACKLIST

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) Adamastor, roi des vagues 2-32579 G&T, Paris 1902
2. Alleluia d’amour (Faure) 3-32639 9106u G&T, Paris 1905
3. Benvenuto Cellini (Diaz) De l’art, splendeur immortelle 2-32597 1184F G&T, Paris 1902
4. Benvenuto Cellini (Diaz) De l’art, splendeur immortelle 3-32623 9058u G&T, Paris 1905
5. Célébrons le Seigneur (Rupès) 3-32050 2822F G&T, Paris 1904
6. Charité (Faure) 2-32577 4360o G&T, Paris 1905 (or late 1904)
7. Charles VI (Halévy) Guerre aux tyrans 3-32060 2956F G&T, Paris 1904
8. Coupe du Roi de Thulé (Diaz) Il est venu 2-32574 G&T, Paris 1902
9. Faust (Gounod) Invocation de Valentin 2-32889 2169F G&T, Paris 1903
10. Faust (Gounod) La mort de Valentin 2-32887 4146F G&T, Paris 1904
11. Favorite (Donizetti) Dans les jardins de l’Alcazar 4-32197, 5373o G&T, Paris 1906
12. Favorite (Donizetti) Pour tant d’amour 2-32907 2310F G&T, Paris 1903
13. Favorite (Donizetti) Pour tant d’amour 4-32196, 5372o G&T, Paris 1906
14. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Duo (w. Affre) 34003 1181F G&T, Paris 1902
15. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Quand l’Helvétie 2-32613 4361o G&T, Paris 1905 (or late 1904)
16. Hamlet (Thomas) O vin dissipe (Chanson bachique) 2-32572 1034F G&T, Paris 1902
17. Henri VIII (Saint-Saëns) Qui donc commande 2-32904 2307F G&T, Paris 1903
18. Hérodiade (Massenet) Vision fugitive 2-32571 1037F G&T, Paris 1902
19. Jocelyn (Godard) Berceuse 3-32399 4368o G&T, Paris 1905 (or late 1904)
20. La barque volée (Collignon) 3-32622 9063u G&T, Paris 1905
21. La voix des chênes (Goublier) 2-32636 2033F G&T, Paris 1903
22. Le crédo du paysan (Goublier) 2-32576 1031F G&T, Paris 1902
23. Le crucifix (Faure) (w. Affre) 34002 1149F G&T, Paris 1902
24. Le promenade du paysan (Dupont) 3-32638 9105u G&T, Paris 1905
25. Le violon brisé (Herpin) 3-32176 4366o G&T, Paris 1905 (or late 1904)
26. L’enfant chantait la Marseillaise (Colin) 4-32205, 9104u G&T, Paris 1905
27. Les rameaux (Faure) 2-32570 1036F G&T, Paris 1902
28. Les sapins (Dupont) 3-32625 9060u G&T, Paris 1905
29. Muette de Portici (Auber) L’amour sacré de la patrie (w. Affre) 34001 1148F G&T, Paris 1902
30. Noël (Adam) 2-32578 4134F G&T, Paris 1904
31. Reine de Chypre (Halévy) Triste exilé 2-32634 1339F G&T, Paris 1902-12
32. Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Ballade de la Reine Mab 2-32573 1038F G&T, Paris 1902
33. Tannhäuser (Wagner) En contemplant cette assemblée immense 2-32877 2112F G&T, Paris 1903
34. Traviata (Verdi) Lorsqu’à de folles amours 3-32656 5369o G&T, Paris 1906
35. Trovatore (Verdi) Son regard, son doux sourire 2-32903 2248F G&T, Paris 1903
36. Trovatore (Verdi) Son regard, son doux sourire 3-32657 5370o G&T, Paris 1906