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. Carmen (Bizet) Air du toréador 32649 3308 Berliner, Paris 1899-07
2. Faust (Gounod) Scène de l’église 32646 3303 Berliner, Paris 1899-07
3. Le crucifix (Faure) (w. Paty) 34087 3310 Berliner, Paris 1899-07
4. Roi de Lahore (Massenet) Air 32645 3306 Berliner, Paris 1899-07
5. Hérodiade (Massenet) Vision fugitive 1-5135 1835-o Favorite, Paris 1906
6. Hymne d’amour (Les heures) (Lionnet) 1-5266 Favorite, Paris 1906
7. Jocelyn (Godard) Berceuse 1-5132 Favorite, Paris 1906
8. La voix des chênes (Goublier) 1-5232 1090-f- Favorite, Paris 1906
9. Les sapins (Dupont) 1-5014 1285-o- Favorite, Paris 1906
10. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Romance de l’étoile 1-5301 1833-o Favorite, Paris 1906
11. Crucifix (Faure) (w. Affre) 50380 Columbia, Paris 1904
12. Henri VIII (Saint-Saëns) Qui donc commande 37184 Columbia cylinders, Paris 1903
13. Le crucifix (Faure) (w. Affre) 50380 Columbia, Paris 1904