Description

MAURICE DECLÉRY (BELGIUM, 1873 – PARIS, 27 DECEMBER, 1957)

After completing his education, he made his debut in 1897 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he remained engaged until 1900. In 1900 and 1901, he appeared as a guest at Covent Garden in London, performing roles such as Nevers in Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots and Valentin in Gounod’s Faust. In 1901, he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he remained until 1903. His debut role there was Escamillo in Carmen, followed by performances in Roméo et Juliette, Faust, Cavalleria Rusticana, and Pagliacci.

He returned to Europe in 1903 and rejoined the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he remained until the end of his career in 1923. Some of his most important roles included Germont in La Traviata, Ourrias in Gounod’s Mireille, Lothario in A. Thomas’ Mignon, the Vézir in H. Rabaud’s Marouf, Lescaut in Massenet’s Manon, François in Xavier Leroux’s Le Chemineau, and Chilon in Nouguès’ Quo Vadis?. He also performed these roles during guest appearances in French theaters. He sometimes wrote his family name as “de Cléry.”

Chronology of some appearances

1897-1900 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie

1900-1901 London Covent Garden

1901-1903 New York Metropolitan Opera

1903-1923 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie

TRACKLIST

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) Fille des Rois 50453 Columbia, New York 1903
2. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Place au factotum 1538 APGA, Paris 1906
3. Faust (Gounod) Avant de quitter 1434 Columbia, New York 1903
4. Faust (Gounod) Vous qui faites l’endormie 50559 Columbia, New York 1903
5. La charité (Faure) 17031 Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1904-1905
6. La charite (Faure) 36665 Odeon, Paris 1904-1905
7. Lakmé (Delibes) Stances Odeon 36613 Odeon, Paris 1904-1905
8. O ma tendre musette (Monsigny) 17028 Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1904-1905
9. Pauvres fous (Tagliafico) 1432 Columbia, New York 1903
10. Pauvres fous (Tagliafico) 17144 Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1904-1905
11. Princesse d’Auberge (Blockx) Romance 17010 Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1904-1905
12. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Romance à l’étoile 17152 Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1904-1905
13. Tannhauser (Wagner) Romance de l’etoile 36607 Odeon, Paris 1904-1905
14. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Romance à l’étoile 1540 APGA, Paris 1906
15. Traviata (Verdi) lorsqu’à de folles amours D1111 50565 Columbia, New York 1903