Description

POL HENRI PLANÇON (FUMAY, FRANCE, 12 JUNE, 1851 – PARIS, FRANCE, 11 AUGUST, 1914)

 

 

 

 

Pol Henri Plançon was a distinguished French operatic bass (basse chantante). He was one of the most acclaimed singers active during the 1880s, 1890s and early 20th century—a period often referred to as the “Golden Age of Opera”. In addition to being among the earliest international opera stars to have made recordings, he was a versatile singer who performed roles ranging from Sarastro in Mozart’s The Magic Flute of 1791 through to core bass parts composed in the 19th century by Meyerbeer, Gounod, Verdi and Wagner, among others. He was renowned for his exquisite legato singing as well as for his crisp diction, limpid tone, precise intonation, and virtuosic mastery of ornaments and fioriture. While not huge, his voice was of penetrating character, making a consistently positive impression in such large theatres as the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. It always moved with exemplary suppleness, allowing him to execute flawless trills and rapid scale passages with remarkable precision and suavity. Plancon was born in Fumay in the Ardennes département of France, near the Belgian border, on the 12 June 1851. “Pol” is a pet form of Paul. He was a distinguished French operatic bass singer who studied with Duprez and Sbriglia in Paris, made his debut in Lyons in 1877, and later worked in Paris, London and New York. He was renowned for his exquisite legato singing as well as for his crisp diction, limpid tone, precise intonation, and virtuosic mastery of ornaments and fioriture. While not huge, his voice was of penetrating character, making a consistently positive impression in such large theatres as the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. He was renowned for his interpretation of Mephistopheles in Charles Gounod’s Faust. Upon his return to Paris at the age of 57, he retired from the stage while still in excellent voice, although his top notes had begun to weaken. He occupied himself by giving lessons to select pupils. He died on 11 August 1914.

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Carmen (Bizet) Chanson du Toréador X-2064 Zonophone, Paris 1902-09/12
2. Faust (Gounod) Vous qui faites l’endormie X-2062 Zonophone, Paris 1902-09/12
3. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Piff, paff, pouff X-2061 Zonophone, Paris 1902-09/12
4. Les rameaux (Faure) X-2065 Zonophone, Paris 1902-0912
5. Philémon et Baucis (Gounod) Couplets de Vulcain X-2066 Zonophone, Paris 1902-09/12
6. Carmen (Bizet) Air du Toréador 2-2667 1938b G&T, London 1902
7. Caïd (Thomas) Enfin chéri (Air du Tambour-major) 88034 C3030 Victor, 1906-03-14
8. Châlet (Adam) Vallons de l’Helvétie 81037 B1050 Victor, 1904-02-27
9. Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Devant la maison 81034 B874 Victor, 1904-01-29
10. Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Une puce gentille 81087 B4345 Victor, 1907-03-27
11. Don Carlo (Verdi) Oui je suis… Je dormirai dans mon manteau royal 85116 C4343 Victor, 1907-03-27
12. Embarquez-vous (Godard) 81039 B1052 Victor, 1904-02-27
13. Faust (Gounod) Alerte! Alerte! (w. Eames & Dalmores) 95300 C4332 Victor, 1907-03-25
14. Faust (Gounod) Le veau d’or 81038 B1051 Victor, 1904-02-27
15. Faust (Gounod) Le veau d’or 81038 B3168 Victor, 1906-03-08
16. Faust (Gounod) Vous qui faites l’endormie 81040 B992 Victor, 1904-01-29
17. Faust (Gounod) Vous qui faites l’endormie 85100 C3023 Victor, 1906-01-23
18. Jahreszeiten (Haydn) Chant du Laboureur 85082 C2321 Victor, 1905-02-20
19. Jésus de Nazareth (Gounod) 85065 C2322 Victor, 1905-02-20
20. Le Cor (Flégier) 85076 C2336 Victor, 1905-02-25
21. Le Lac (Niedermeyer) 85023 C989 Victor, 1904-02-27
22. Le Soupir (Bemberg) 81073 B2335 Victor, 1905-02-25
23. Noël (Adam) 81023 B871 Victor, 1903-12-23
24. Pardon de Ploërmel (Dinorah) (Meyerbeer) En chasse 81065 B2338 Victor, 1905-02-25
25. Philémon et Baucis (Gounod) Au bruit des lourds 81056 B2200 Victor, 1905-01-24
26. Robert le diable (Meyerbeer) Nonnes qui réposez 85125 C6110 Victor, 1908-04-14
27. Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Allons! Jeunes gens 81035 B990 Victor, 1904-01-29
28. Si tu veux, Mignonne (Massenet) 81076 B2320 Victor, 1905-02-20
29. Sonnambula (Bellini) Il mulino…Vi ravviso 85018 C870 Victor, 1903-12-23
30. Stabat Mater (Rossini) Pro peccatis 81033 B991 Victor, 1904-01-29