Description

LAURENT JOSEPH CHARLES THÉODORE SWOLFS (BRUSSELS, 9 MARCH 1876 – BRUSSELS, 4 NOVEMBER, 1954)

 

 

 

 

He studied singing in Antwerp and Brussels, notably with Désiré Demest. Initially starting his career as a concert singer, he made his stage debut in 1901 at the Opera House of Antwerp as Max in Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber. In 1903, he was engaged by the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he enjoyed a successful career for over twenty years. Notably, in 1907, he created the role of Herodes in Richard Strauss’s Salome at this theater.

During the 1908-09 season, he worked at the Opera House of Lyon. In 1908, encouraged by composer Felix von Weingartner, he appeared at the Vienna Court Opera in the leading role of Weingartner’s Genesius. He also performed in Lohengrin and Samson et Dalila in Vienna.

He achieved great success at the Grand Opéra in Paris in 1910, particularly as Siegmund in Die Walküre and as Samson in Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns. In 1913, he appeared at the Grand Opéra as Loge in Das Rheingold. In 1911, he sang at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in the premiere of Albéric Magnard’s Bérénice and also made guest appearances at the Opera House of Nice.

After World War I, he succeeded Ernest van Dyck as a professor at the Brussels Conservatoire and served as the artistic manager of the Opera House of Antwerp from 1923 to 1925. After retiring, he lived in Ghent and, toward the end of his life, became blind. His voice was known for its powerful control and metallic brilliance.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1901 Antwerp Opera House

1903 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie

1908-1909 Lyon Opera House

1908 Vienna Court Opera

1910 Paris Grand Opéra

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Walkyrie (Wagner) Plus d’hiver, déjà le printemps commence F 42139 Reneyphone
2. Les maîtres chanteurs de Nurenberg (Wagner) Couplets de Walther F 42138 Reneyphone
3. Ik ken een lied (Demol) F 47 7-43052 HO 5810 HMV
4. De bruid der zee Het waren twee koningskinderen 50046, 9459 Pathé
5. Aan u alleen (Hullebroek) 9460 50046 Pathé
6. Fortunio (Messager) La maison grise 7-432056 Ho5817ae HMV
7. Beminnen (J. H. Wood) F 47 Ho 5811AE HMV
8. Serenade (Gounod) A33080 Odeon
9. Stancen (Flégier) A33077 Odeon
10. Novembre (Trémisot) 7-432057 Ho5816ae HMV
11. Het Lied der Populiers A33070 Odeon
12. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Pauvre Paillasse 1647 2405 Anker
13. Schoone droom (Le beau rêve) (Flégier) 2-0432003 03290v Gramophone, Paris 1919-11-26
14. Verse Margot (Doria) 97527 Odeon
15. Mignon (Thomas) Elle ne croyait pas 113 02405 Parlophone