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

 

 

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Bientôt l’erbe des champs 60341 XP3363 Odeon, Paris 1907

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) O bel ange 60342 XP3364 Odeon, Paris 1907

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) O bel ange P5 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Mage (Massenet) Ah, parais! 2-32688 1468-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)

Mage (Massenet) Air du mage 3490 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Mage (Massenet) Grand air 60324 XP3333 Odeon, Paris 1907

Mage (Massenet) Soulève l’ombre de ces voiles 37174 Columbia cylinders, Paris 1903

Malgré moi (Pfeiffer) P2001 2001-2 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Mefistofele (Boito) Romance du 1er acte P6 6-1 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Muette de Portici (Auber) Amour sacré (w. Noté) 34001 1148F G&T, Paris 1902

Muette de Portici (Auber) Amour sacré (w. Noté) 36727 XP2583 Odeon, Paris 1906-08

Parais à ta fénêtre (Gregh) 2-32686 1454-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)

Parais à ta fenêtre (Gregh) 3497 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Parais à ta fenêtre (Gregh) P2051 2051-1 Pathé-APGA, Paris 1910

Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pour Bertha (Pastorale) 2-32689, 1469-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)

Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pour Bertha 3507 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pour Bertha 36534 XP2455 Odeon, Paris 1906

Quand l’oiseau chante (Tagliafico) 3491 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903