Description

FERNAND ANSSEAU (BOUSSU-BOIS, BELGIUM, MARCH 6, 1890 – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, MAY 1, 1972)

 

 

 

 

He first trained as a printer. After discovering his vocal talent, he studied with Désiré Demest and the famous Belgian Heldentenor Ernest van Dijk in Brussels. In 1913, he made his debut in Dijon as Jean in Jules Massenet’s Hérodiade. In 1914, he sang at the Theater of Belfort. During World War I, he refused to perform on stage in occupied Belgium and instead gave charity concerts, which made him very popular. In 1918, he resumed his career at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, where he sang the role of Canio in Pagliacci during the grand reopening of the Brussels Opera after the war. The success of this performance was sensational and brought him international fame.

From 1919 onwards, he appeared almost every year with great success at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London, making his debut there as Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon. In 1920, he began performing at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, with his debut role as Werther. In 1921, he was heard at the Opéra-Comique in one of his signature roles, Orfeo in Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. In 1922, he performed at the Paris Grand Opéra, and from 1923 to 1928, he sang at the Chicago Opera. He also performed in San Francisco in 1925 and made successful guest appearances in Monte Carlo, London, and Paris.

From 1930 to 1939, he returned to the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. In 1930, he sang the role of Masaniello in Auber’s La Muette de Portici during the jubilee performance commemorating the centenary of the Belgian Revolution. Throughout his career, he remained closely connected to the Théâtre de la Monnaie, where he gave his final performance as Canio in 1939. His last concert took place on May 5, 1940. When Belgium was occupied by German troops in 1940, he once again refused to perform in public. From 1942 to 1944, he taught singing at the Conservatory of Brussels. He later lived in Brussels.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Implorons à genoux 2-032084 CT488-1 HMV, Paris 1924-03-21

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Voici ma misère, hélas… Hélas, Israël 7-32085, 7-32086, BT478, BT479, HMV, Paris 1924-03-20

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Vois ma misère, hélas (w. chorus) 2-032073 CS843-1 HMV, Paris 1923-02-27

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Vois ma misère, hélas… Dieu nous confient DB1268, DB1268, CV178, CV179 HMV, Paris 1928-10-25

Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle DA898 Bb10950 HMV, London 1927-06-15

Tosca (Puccini) Le ciel luisait d’étoiles 2-032038 Ho3899af HMV, London 1919-07-25

Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia DA898 Bb10949 HMV, London 1927-06-15

Werther (Massenet) J’aurais sur ma poitrine 2-032040 Ho3902af HMV, London 1919-07-25

Werther (Massenet) J’aurais sur ma poitrine DB1085 Cc10954 HMV, London 1927-06-15

Werther (Massenet) O Nature 2-032039 Ho3901af HMV, London 1919-07-25

Werther (Massenet) O Nature DB1085 Cc10951 HMV, London 1927-06-15

Werther (Massenet) Oui, c’est moi… N’achevez pas (w. Orens) DB1451 DB1451 CF3345-2 CF3346-1 HMV, Paris 1930-06

Werther (Massenet) Oui, c’est moi… N’achevez pas (w. Sadoven) 2-034034, 2-034035, CL45, CL46 HMV, Paris 1924-10-02

Werther (Massenet) Pourquoi me réveiller 7-32036 Ho5747ae HMV, London 1920-06-29