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

 

 

Aida (Verdi) O guerriers sur ce rivage (w. Landouzy, Talexis, Fréville, Lequien & Narçon) 56193 XP4439 Odeon, Paris 1908

Armide (Gluck) Air Pantophone 1856 Pantophone, Paris 1905

Armide (Gluck) Plus j’observe ces lieux 97011 XP4258 Odeon, Paris 1908-06

Astarte (Leroux) Adieux de Hercule P1 1-1 Pathe-APGA, Paris1910

Astarté (Leroux) Adieux d’Hercule 2-32679 G&T, Paris 1903 (early)

Attaque du Moulin (Bruneau) Adieux 36741 XP2565 Odeon, Paris 1906-08

Attaque du Moulin (Bruneau) Adieux à la forêt 3492 Pathé, Paris 1910 (with orchestra)

Ave Maria (Gounod) 97678 XP5105 Odeon, Paris 1910

Cantique de Noël (Adam) 160 Grands Magasins du Louvre, 1899-1901

Carmen (Bizet) Air de la fleur 1749 Pantophone, Paris 1905

Carmen (Bizet) Air de la fleur 3486 Pathé, Paris 1910 (with orchestra)

Carmen (Bizet) La fleur 3-32248 3590-F G&T, Paris 1904

Carmen (Bizet) La fleur 36685 XP2510 Odeon, Paris 1906-08

Chrysanthèmes (Margis) 97163 XP4478 Odeon, Paris 1908

Cid (Massenet) O jours (w. Comès) P1502 1502-1 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Dragons de Villars (Maillart) Ne parle pas, Rose P2 Pathe-APGA, Paris1910

Faust (Gounod) Anges purs (Trio final) (w. Demougeot & Gresse) 34035 3157-F G&T, Paris 1904

Faust (Gounod) Anges purs (w. Demougeot & Nivette) 60895 XP4267 Odeon, Paris 1908-06