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

 

 

Hernani (Hirschmann) Scène du tombeau, pt 1, pt 2 2105, 2106, A258, A259 APGA, Paris 1909-03-30

Hérodiade (Massenet) Air de Jean P3 3-2 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Hérodiade (Massenet) Grand air de Jean 60323 XP3332 Odeon, Paris 1907

Hosanna (Granier) 50381, 50381-1 Columbia, Paris 1904

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Ah, si j’etais coquette (w. Landouzy) 56161 XP3682 Odeon, Paris 1907

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Beauté divine 3511 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) En mon bon droit j’ai confiance (w. Fréville, Claudin, Rigaux, Lequien, Narçon & Bernard) 97142 Xp4452 Odeon, Paris 1908

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Entrée de Raoul 3509 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Entrée de Raoul 3509 Pathé, Paris 1910 (with orchestra)

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Grand duo, 4e acte (w. Comès) P1501 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) O ciel, ou courez-vous… Tu m’aimes… Plus d’amour, plus d’ivresse (w. Laute-Brun) 97512, 97513, 97514, XP4889, XP4890, XP4891 Odeon, Paris 1909

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Plus blanche 2-32685 1453-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Plus blanche 3496 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Plus blanche 3496 Pathé, Paris 1910 (with orchestra)

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Plus blanche 36413 XP2326 Odeon, Paris 1906