Description

JEAN RIDDEZ (LA BASSÉE, 14 MARCH, 1875 – MONTREAL, 2 SEPTEMBER, 1939)

 

 

 

 

Until 1897, he studied singing at the conservatoire in his hometown of Lille, and from 1897 to 1900, he continued his studies at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1900, he was engaged by the Grand Opéra in Paris, debuting as Rigoletto in Verdi’s Rigoletto. He remained active at the Grand Opéra until 1910.

Between 1908 and 1910, he briefly performed tenor roles such as Faust and Lohengrin but eventually returned to his baritone repertoire. After guest appearances in various French theaters, he traveled to the United States, singing during the 1911–1912 season at the Boston Opera House. His roles there included Pelléas in Pelléas et Mélisande, Athanaël in Massenet’s Thaïs, Escamillo in Carmen, Lescaut in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, and Scarpia in Tosca.

He also performed with the Montreal Opera Company, where he appeared in operas such as Massenet’s Hérodiade and Le jongleur de Notre-Dame. Upon returning to France, he spent five seasons at the Opera House in Lyon before transitioning to a teaching role at the conservatoire there.

In 1920, he returned to Montreal, performing again as Athanaël in Thaïs, and eventually settled there as a voice teacher. His daughter, Juanita Riddez, became a celebrated dramatic soprano.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Berceuse Pour un regard de deux grands yeux j’ai frémi 10058 A563 Arion
2. Carmen (Bizet) Couplet du Toreador 190 190 F Lyrophon
3. Carmen (Bizet) Couplet du Toreador X-82037 Zonophone
4. Charles VI (Halevy) C’est grand’ pitié Bettini Cylinder
5. Hamlet (Thomas) O vin dissipe la tristesse Bettini Cylinder
6. Henri VIII (Saint-Saens) Qui donc commande Bettini Cylinder
7. Il aurait vu son amour 197 Lyrophon
8. La chanson du vagabond (Fourdrain) HMV
9. L’Angélus de la mer X-82040 Zonophone
10. Les Enfants (Massenet) 3554 Odeon
11. Les trois hussards (Nadaud) 34280-F W111584 Columbia
12. Les trois hussards (Nadaud) HMV
13. Les vieilles de chez nous (Levadé) 34280-F W111585 Columbia
14. Les vieilles de chez nous (Levadé) HMV
15. Trouvere (Verdi) Son regard, son doux sourire 3997 Odeon