Description

LOUIS DISTER (COMBIEN LA TOUR (LIEGE/LUIK), 13 AUGUST, 1887 – COMBLAIN-LA-TOUR, BELGIUM, 23 OCTOBER, 1964)

 

 

 

After studying at the Conservatory of Liège, he made his debut at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels in 1907, performing in Richard Strauss’s Salome. He returned to La Monnaie for several seasons: 1918-1919, 1926-1927, 1927-1930, and 1931-1932. His roles at La Monnaie included Turiddo in Cavalleria Rusticana, Noureddine in Le Khadi Dupé, Mergy in Le Pré aux Clercs, Shahabarim in Salammbo, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Gérald in Lakmé, Vincent in Mireille, Hoffmann in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don José in Carmen, Werther, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Alfredo in La Traviata, Des Grieux in Manon, and Wilhelm Meister in Mignon.

In addition to his work in Brussels, he made guest appearances at the Royal Flemish Opera in Antwerp during the 1909-1910 season in Gustave Charpentier’s Louise and returned for the 1921 and 1923-1925 seasons. At the Ghent Opera, he performed during the 1912-1913, 1920-1921, and 1932-1933 seasons. Notably, he sang Alfredo in La Traviata in Verviers (1925), Rodolfo in La Bohème (1929), and Gérald in Lakmé (1930). His performances extended to Geneva, Lyon, Bordeaux, and the Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liège.

He debuted at the Theatre Royal de La Haye in 1909 as Faust and returned to the Netherlands in 1929 for his final performance as Wilhelm Meister in Mignon. His vocal artistry was preserved in multiple Columbia recordings from 1930, capturing his talents toward the end of his career.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1907 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1909 La Haye Theatre Royal

1909-1910 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1912-1913 Ghent Opera

1918-1919 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1920-1921 Ghent Opera

1921 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1923 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1925 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1925 Verviers Opera

1926-1927 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1927-1930 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1930 Verviers Opera

1931-1932 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1932-1933 Ghent Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

Columbia 1929-03-28

Lakmé (Delibes): D’où viens-tu? (w. Talifert) D14248 WLX 949

Boheme (Puccini): Che gelida manina D14246

Mignon (Thomas):  Elle ne croyait pas D14246

Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia

The Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky): Vivre, aimer

La muette de Portici (Auber): Du pauvre seul ami fidèle

 

Columbia, 1929-03-29

Lakmé (Delibes): Fantaisie des mensonges D14248 WLX 952