Description

AGUSTARELLO AFFRE (SAINT-CHINIAN, 23 OCTOBER, 1858 – CAGNES-SUR-MER, FRANCE, 27 DECEMBER, 1931)

 

 

 

 

Discovered by Pierre Gailhard, he initially trained at the conservatories in Toulouse and Paris under Duvernoy. Affre made his debut in 1890 as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, with Nellie Melba as his partner, marking the beginning of his long association with the Grand Opéra.

Throughout the 1890s, he appeared in prominent French cities such as Lyon, Marseille, and Aix-les-Bains, before making his international debut in Brussels at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in 1900. Among his notable performances at the Grand Opéra were his roles in J. Massenet’s Le Mage (1891) and the French premiere of R. Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci in 1902. His repertoire also included important roles like Raoul in Les Huguenots, Eleazar in La Juive, Faust, and Samson in Samson et Dalila.

Affre made guest appearances in London at Covent Garden in 1909 and later in San Francisco (1911), New Orleans (1912), and Havana (1913). His powerful, heroic voice earned him the nickname “The French Tamagno,” drawing comparisons to the famous Italian tenor. He remained active during World War I, giving concerts to French soldiers near the front lines. He passed away in his villa on the Côte d’Azur and was laid to rest in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1890 Paris Grand Opera

1891 Paris Grand Opera

1902 Paris Grand Opera

1905 Paris Grand Opera

1909 London Covent Garden

1911 San Francisco Opera

1912 New Orleans Opera

1913 Havana Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Air de Vasco de Gama 3482 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Air de Vasco de Gama 3482 Pathé, Paris 1910 (with orchestra)

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Grand air, pt 2 36672 XP2475 Odeon, Paris 1906

Africaine (Meyerbeer) O ma Sélika (w. Comès) P1501 1501-1 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Oui fallut-il perdre la vie (w. Rigaux, Narçon, Fréville & Bernard) 97061 XP4355 Odeon, Paris 1908

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Pays merveilleux 2-32593 1147-F G&T, Paris 1902 (late)

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Pays merveilleux 160 Grands Magasins du Louvre, Paris 1899-1901

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Pays merveilleux 1736 Pantophone, Paris 1904-1905

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Pays merveilleux! 33271 Odeon, Paris 1904

Aida (Verdi) Adieu séjour (w. Talexis & chorus) 60562 XP3715 Odeon, Paris 1907

Aida (Verdi) Céleste Aida 3483 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Aida (Verdi) Céleste Aida 33273 Odeon, Paris 1904

Aida (Verdi) Céleste Aida 150006 Dutreih, Paris 1905

Aida (Verdi) Douce Aida 36644 XP2474 Odeon, Paris 1906

Aida (Verdi) Gloire à l’Egypte (w. Landouzy, Talexis, Rigaux, Lequien & Narçon) 56196 xP 4438 Odeon, Paris 1908

Aida (Verdi) Grand air 33273 Odeon, Paris 1904

Aida (Verdi) Je te revois (w. Marignan) P1503 P1503-1 Pathé – APGA, Paris 1910

Aida (Verdi) Mourir, ô toi si belle (w. Marignan) P1503 P1503-2 Pathé – APGA, Paris 1910