Description

MARTHE CHENAL (PARIS, 24 AUGUST, 1881 – PARIS, 28 JANUARY, 1947)

 

 

 

 

She nearly abandoned her opera career after a series of discouraging experiences. Officials at the Paris Conservatory dismissed her talent, and several French provincial theaters turned her away. As a result, she reluctantly accepted singing engagements at music halls and the Moulin-Rouge.

However, her fortunes changed after further studies with Martini. In 1905, she secured a breakthrough engagement at the Paris Opéra, where she debuted as the French Brunehilde in Reyer’s Sigurd. Chenal silenced her critics and became immensely popular, performing at major venues such as the Opéra, the Opéra-Comique, the Gaîté-Lyrique, and the Monte Carlo Opera.

She was involved in the premieres of several operas, many of which have since fallen into obscurity, including Le Miracle (1910), Icare (1911), La Forêt Sacrée (1916), Graziella (1916), Jeanne d’Arc (1917), and Intermède (1919).

Chenal was celebrated for her striking stage presence, compelling acting, and generous spirit, which endeared her to both audiences and colleagues.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1905 Paris Grand Opéra

1907 Rome Teatro Costanzi

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Ave Maria (Gounod) 1966 Pathé, Paris 1915
2. Belle Hélène (Offenbach) Invocation à Vénus 1964 Pathé, Paris 1915
3. Carmen (Bizet) Habanera 1871 Pathé, Paris 1915
4. Fille de Mme Angot (Lecocq) Les soldats d’Augereau 1884 Pathé, Paris 1915
5. Hérodiade (Massenet) Il est doux 1900 Pathé, Paris 1915
6. La Marseillaise (de l’Isle) (w. chorus) 2319 Pathé, Paris 1915
7. Sigurd (Reyer) Salut, splendeur du jour 1872 Pathé, Paris 1915
8. Tosca (Puccini) D’art et d’amour 1941 Pathé, Paris 1915
9. Le chant du départ (Méhul) (w. chorus) 2314 Pathé, Paris 1915

FRENCH SOPRANO MARTHE CHENAL (1881-1947) CDR

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