Description

LÉON MELCHISSÉDEC (CLERMONT FERRAND, 7 MAY, 1843 – PARIS, 23 MARCH, 1925)

 

 

 

 

He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he won the first prize in 1865. His debut came in 1866 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he remained until 1876. During his time there, he sang in several notable premieres, including Auber’s Le premier jour de bonheur (1868), Paladilhe’s L’Amour africain (1875), and Offenbach’s Fantasio (January 18, 1872).

In 1876, he joined the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris, where he performed in the premieres of Paul et Virginie by Massé (November 15, 1876) and Saint-Saëns’ Le timbre d’argent (February 23, 1877). He was then engaged by the Paris Grand Opéra in 1879, debuting in the role of Nevers in Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots. His tenure at the Grand Opéra was a major success, spanning until 1891, with a return from 1905 to 1912.

At the Grand Opéra, he appeared in several important premieres, including Gounod’s Le Tribut de Zamora (April 1, 1881), Massenet’s Le Cid (November 30, 1885), Emile Pessard’s Tabarin (1885, in the title role), and Ambroise Thomas’ Françoise de Rimini (April 14, 1882). In 1888, he sang in the premiere of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette alongside stars such as Adelina Patti, Jean de Reszke, and Édouard de Reszke.

He continued his career at the Monte Carlo Opera, where he sang in the stage premiere of Berlioz’s Damnation de Faust (February 18, 1893) with Jean de Reszke, and in the premiere of Isidore de Lara’s Moina (March 14, 1897). On March 21, 1899, he took part in the premiere of de Lara’s Messaline, which was a great success at the time, and he continued to perform in Monte Carlo until 1902.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Berliner, Paris 1899-07-25

Le Caid (Thomas): Enfant cheri (Air du Tambour-Major) 32639 3069

 

Pathé cylinders (black wax), Paris 1902-11

Les Dragons de Villars (Maillart): Chanson a boire 3699

 

Zonophone, Paris 1902-11?

La Marseillaise (de Lisle) X-2060

 

A.P.G.A., Paris 1907-03

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Fille des rois, a toi l’hommage 1624

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Adamastor, roi des vagues profondes (Ballade) 1625

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Et c’est toi qui dechires mon вme (Eri tu) 1626

Rigoletto (Verdi): Oh! Mes maоtres, ma voix vous implore (Miei signori) 1627

 

A.P.G.A., Paris 1908

Don Giovanni (Mozart): Je suis sous ta fenetre (Serenade) 1990

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): Soyez les bienvenus… Allons! Jeunes gens! (Air de la Reine Mab) 1991