Description

ARTHUR DESCAMPS (PATURAGES, BELGIUM, 1882 – PATURAGES, BELGIUM, 1948)

After studying with Achille Tondeur in Mons and Adolphe Maréchal in Lüttich, he made his debut at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie during World War I. His early repertoire included several cornerstone tenor roles: Rodolfo (La Bohème), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Duca (Rigoletto), Alfredo (La Traviata), Werther, Faust, Romeo (Roméo et Juliette), Jean (Hérodiade), and José (Carmen).

From 1919 to 1921 and 1925 to 1927, he was affiliated with the Royal Opera in Antwerp. In the interim, from 1921 to 1924, he performed at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he sang in the Belgian premieres of Gianni Schicchi (1922) and La vida breve (1923).

His guest performances between 1920 and 1934 spanned Marseille, Vichy, Strasbourg, and North Africa, broadening his artistic reach. In his final career years, he transitioned into Wagner’s works, specializing in Tristan, Tannhäuser, and Parsifal—a significant shift that suggests his vocal maturity suited Wagner’s demanding tenor roles.

Chronology of some appearances

1919-1921 Antwerp Royal Opera
1921-1924 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie
1925-1927 Antwerp Royal Opera

TRACKLIST

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) O Paradis F22071 72 bm Polydor, about 1925
2. Idéal (Tosti) F 2118 Polydor, about 1925
3. Paillasse (Leoncavallo) Me grimer F 22070 74 bm Polydor, about 1925
4. Pour un baiser (Tosti) Polydor, about 1925
5. Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov) Hindulied Polydor, about 1925
6. Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia F22068 Polydor, about 1925
7. Werther (Massenet) O nature F22068 Polydor, about 1925