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

 

 

1. Astarté (Leroux) Adieux d’Hercule 2-32679 G&T, Paris 1903 (early)
2. Carmen (Bizet) La fleur 3-32248 3590-F G&T, Paris 1904
3. Faust (Gounod) Laisse-moi contempler (w. Demougeot) 34037 3159F G&T, Paris 1904
4. Faust (Gounod) Laisse-moi contempler 2-32969 2288-F G&T, Paris 1903
5. Faust (Gounod) Salut demeure 2-32595 1182-F G&T, Paris 1902 (late)
6. Faust (Gounod) Salut, ô mon dernier matin 3-32968 2252-CS G&T, Paris 1903
7. Faust (Gounod) Seigneur Dieu, que vois-je (w. Demougeot, Agussol & Gresse) 34039 3158F G&T, Paris 1904
8. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Duo (w. Noté) 34003 1181-F G&T, Paris 1902 (late)
9. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Plus blanche 2-32685 1453-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)
10. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Tu l’as dit (w. Demougeot) 34036 3161-F G&T, Paris 1904
11. Le crucifix (Faure) (w. Noté) 34002 1149F G&T, Paris 1902
12. Mage (Massenet) Ah, parais! 2-32688 1468-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)
13. Muette de Portici (Auber) Amour sacré (w. Noté) 34001 1148F G&T, Paris 1902
14. Parais à ta fénêtre (Gregh) 2-32686 1454-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)
15. Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pour Bertha (Pastorale) 2-32689, 1469-F G&T, Paris 1903 (early)
16. Rigoletto (Verdi) Comme la plume au vent 2-32607 1231-F G&T, Paris 1902 (late)
17. Rigoletto (Verdi) Fragments du quartuor (w. unknown (mezzosoprano) 2-32970, 2289-F G&T, Paris 1903
18. Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Nuit d’hymenée (w. Agussol) 34004 1229-F G&T, Paris 1902 (late)
19. Statue (Reyer) Grand récit 2-32972 2418-CS G&T, Paris 1903
20. Trovatore (Verdi) O toi mon seul espoir 3-32187 3425-F G&T, Paris 1904