Description

PAUL PAYAN (TOULON, FRANCE, 1 JANUARY, 1878 – JUAN-LES-PINS, FRANCE, 1 NOVEMBER, 1959)

 

 

 

 

He studied at the Conservatoire National in Paris under Isnardon and made his professional debut in 1906 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, appearing in Gustave Charpentier’s Louise as a comprimario. Over the years, he became a principal bass at the Opéra-Comique, where he was involved in several notable premieres, such as:

La Habanéra by Raoul Laparra (1908)

Macbeth by Ernest Bloch (1910)

La Lépreuse by Sylvio Lazzari (1912)

La Danseuse de Pompéi by Jean Nouguès (1912)

Marouf by Henri Rabaud (1914)

His career expanded to include appearances at the Paris Grand Opéra and guest performances throughout the French provinces. His international work included seasons at the Chicago Opera (1921-1922), where he achieved great success in Le jongleur de Notre Dame, Manon, Roméo et Juliette, and Samson et Dalila. He was also engaged by the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in 1924 and performed at Covent Garden in 1928 in roles like Zuniga in Carmen, the old Hebrew in Samson et Dalila, and his role in Louise.

Though he had an international career, Paris remained the center of his artistic activity, where he later became a respected pedagogue. He should not be confused with the French baritone Paul Payen (1900-1982).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1906 Paris Opéra-Comique

1921-1922 Chicago Opera

1924 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón

1928 London Covent Garden

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Cendrillon (Massenet) Viens, nous quitterons cette ville (w. Heilbronner) 111585 Odeon, Paris 1913
2. Faust (Gounod) Mais ce Dieu (w. Dutreix) X.111750, X.111751, XP 6257, XP 6258 Odeon, Paris
3. Faust (Gounod) Tenez, elle ouvre sa fenêtre (w. Charbonnel) X111858 Odeon, Paris
4. Fauvette du Temple (Messager) Duo des chameliers (w. Heilbronner) 97777 xP 5267 Odeon, Paris
5. Hamlet (Thomas) C’est en vain… Je t’implore, ô mon frère 123566  XXP 6710 Odeon, Paris 1928
6. Hérodiade (Massenet) Astres étincelants 188.662 KI 2429 Odeon, Paris 24-05-1929
7. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Piff, paff 123.567 XXP 6711 Odeon 20-09-1928
8. Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) La Calomnie 123655 Odeon, Paris 1929
9. Jongleur de Nôtre-Dame (Massenet) Il pleure, un peu de foi 188668 Odeon, Paris 24-05-1929
10. Juive (Halevy) L’ai-je bien entendu (w. Vezzani) 111879 XP6427 Odeon, Paris 1914
11. La Jolie fille de Perth (Bizet) Quand la flamme de l’amour 123655 XXP 6910 Odeon, Paris
12. Le Caïd  (Thomas) L’amour, le dieu profane 188604 KI 1832 Odeon, Paris 1928
13. Le soir (Alphonse de Lamartine) 97563 Odeon, Paris
14. L’internationale (Degeyter) 97641 Odeon, Paris
15. Louise (Charpentier) Ah! quelle jonrnee (w. Charbonnel) 111566  xP 6044 Odeon, Paris 1913-1915
16. Louise (Charpentier) Le bonheur, vois-tu  (w. Charbonnel) X 111537 xP 6045 Odeon, Paris 1912-01-01
17. Manon (Massenet) Pardon! mais j’étais là (w. Heilbronner) 97774 xP 5266 Odeon, Paris
18. Mignon (Thomas) Berceuse 188661 Odeon, Paris 24-05-1929
19. Ne parlons plus d’amour (Arezzo) 111343 Odeon, Paris
20. Philemon et Baucis (Gounod) Berceuse Que les songes heureux 188664 KI 2424 Odeon 1929
21. Reine de Saba (Gounod) Sous les pieds d’une femme 123.654 123.654 XXP 6904 XXP 6905 Odeon 25-05-1929
22. Sigurd (Reyer) Odin, dieu farouche 188604 KI 1829 Odeon 1928