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

 

 

Roi d’Ys (Lalo) Aubade 97680 XP5107 Odeon, Paris 1910

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Ah! lève-toi soleil 97020 XP4255 Odeon, Paris 1908-06

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod) Ange adorable (Madrigal) with Landouzy 56121 XP3622 Odeon, Paris 1907

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Cavatine 3485 Pathé, Paris 1910 (with orchestra)

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Dieu de bonté (w. Landouzy, Lauger-Dubois & Billot) 56159 XP3678 Odeon, Paris 1907

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Juliette est vivante (w. Landouzy) 56126 XP3627 Odeon, Paris 1907

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) L’amour… Ah! lève-toi, soleil 1508 1508-1 Pathé, Paris 1912

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Madrigal (w. Agussol) 34005 1228-F G&T, Paris 1902 (late)

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Nuit d’hymenée (w. Agussol) 34004 1229-F G&T, Paris 1902 (late)

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Pourquoi me la rends-tu si belle 60478, XP3632 Odeon, Paris 1907

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Salut! Tombeau! 1501 Pathe, Paris 1912

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Salut! Tombeau! 60487 XP3631 Odeon, Paris 1907

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Scène du tombeau 3508 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Sigurd (Reyer) Duo de la fontaine (w.  Comès) P1701 P1701-2 Pathé-APGA, Paris 19101911

Sigurd (Reyer) Duo de la fontaine (w. Tanésy) 731 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903

Sigurd (Reyer) Duo de la fontaines, pt 1, pt 2 (Avec les fleurs) pt 3 (Maitre que m’ont donne les dieux) (w. Laute-Brun) 97509, 97510, 97511, XP4886, XP4887, XP4888 Odeon, Paris 1909