Description

CHARLOTTE TIRARD (ROUEN, FRANCE, 1887 – PARIS, FRANCE, 1971)

She studied in Milan under Giulietta Vermez, a renowned singer with a successful career that extended beyond Italy to cities like St. Petersburg, Bucharest, Vilna, and Minsk, retiring around 1907. In 1926, at the age of 39, she made her operatic debut at the Grand Opéra in Paris, performing as Helmwige in Die Walküre. The following year, her career blossomed as she took on iconic roles such as Aida (with Giacomo Lauri-Volpi), the Marschallin in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Tosca, and Violetta in La Traviata. She was especially acclaimed for her portrayal of Marguerite and was a captivating Thaïs, performing the role with esteemed partners like Thill and Vanni-Marcoux.

Her achievements included singing the first French performance of Aithra in Strauss’ Die Ägyptische Helena at the Monte Carlo Opera House. In 1931, she appeared at the Strasbourg Opera, often showcasing her talents in Wagnerian roles, with highlights including Elisabeth, Helmwige, scenes from Parsifal, and Das Rheingold. Her Puccini interpretations, especially Tosca, were highly regarded, earning her the title of the greatest French Tosca of her time. She was a sought-after artist across France’s opera houses until her retirement in 1939.

TRACKLIST

1. Faust (Gounod) Va-t-en (Scène de la prison, pt 1) pt 2 (Oui, c’est toi) (w. Villabella) Odeon 123.679 123.679 xxP7015 xxP7016
2. Griselidis (Massenet) Il partit au printemps Polydor 516646
3. Madame Butterfly (Puccini) Sur la mer calmée Polydor 566076
4. Roi d’Ys (Lalo) En silence pourquoi souffrir (w. Manceau) Polydor 66963
5. Cinq Mars (Gounod) Nuit resplendissante Polydor 566024
6. La Tosca (Puccini) D’art et d’amour Polydor 566028
7. La Reine de Saba (Gounod) Plus grand dans son obscurité Polydor 566111
8. Le Tasse (Godard) Les regrets Polydor 566111
9. Le Cid (Massenet) Air de Chimène Polydor 566024
10. Faust (Gounod) Scène de l’église, pt 1 (w. Billot) Odeon 188.703 Ki-2939
11. Faust (Gounod) Scène de l’église, pt 2 (w. Billot) Odeon 188.703 Ki-2940