Description

FRANS GIJSEN (ANTWERP, 11 JULY, 1909 – ANTWERP, 22 MAY, 1992)

Frans Gijsen, known in France as Frans de Guise, was a Belgian tenor. He was married to the soprano Madeleine Farrère (Madeleine David).

He studied at the Royal Flemish Conservatory under Arthur Steurbaut and Jef Judels, and made his debut as Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the Royal Flemish Opera. In 1937, he joined the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, and two years later appeared in Nice. His career was interrupted by the Second World War, after which he gave concert tours throughout France and its North African colonies.

He subsequently returned to the Flemish Opera in Antwerp, while also appearing with other companies. He retired from the stage in 1958. Gijsen possessed a lyric tenor voice of considerable beauty and wide range.

TRACKLIST

Boheme (Puccini): Che gelida manina

Boheme (Puccini): Che gelida manina (en flamand)

Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Asile héréditaire

O sole mio (Di Capua)

Rigoletto (Verdi): Comme la plume au vent

Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira (en flamand)

Tosca (Puccini): O de beautés égales

Tosca (Puccini): Le ciel luisait d’étoiles

Werther (Massenet): Pourquoi me réveiller (en flamand)