Description

CÉSAR VEZZANI (BASTIA, CORSICA, 8 AUGUST, 1888 – MARSEILLE, 11 NOVEMBER, 1951)

 

 

 

 

He was born in Bastia, Corsica, and arrived in Paris in 1908. At first, he could barely read or write and spoke very little French. His voice was discovered by the soprano Agnès Borgo (1879-1958), who became his first teacher and later sent him to the Conservatoire National de Paris. The two married in 1913.

He made his debut in 1912 at the Opéra-Comique, performing in Grétry’s Richard Cœur de Lion. The couple was invited to sing in Boston and Chicago, but the outbreak of World War I forced them to cancel these engagements. After a disagreement with the management of the Opéra-Comique, his career was largely confined to performing at operas in Nice, Marseille, Toulon, Toulouse, and Brussels, and he never returned to Paris.

During World War II, he lived in exile and performed at the opera in Algiers, where he was highly admired. In 1947, he signed a three-year contract with La Monnaie in Brussels. However, during a rehearsal in Toulon, he suffered a stroke that left him completely paralyzed. He passed away in 1951.

Vezzani was a dramatic tenor of great brilliance, known for his ringing top notes and vibrant vitality in his singing. He was particularly admired in roles such as Otello (in excellent French—a rare skill today), and his renditions of Di quella pira from Il Trovatore, Reyer’s Sigurd, and Corentin in Dinorah showcase him at his finest.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Africaine (Meyerbeer) C’est de lа que mon canot fragile… Combien tu m’es chere with Ricquier DB4901 52-1204 Gramophone, Paris 1932-11-22

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Erreur fatale with Ricquier DB4901 52-1205 Gramophone, Paris 1932-11-22

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Pays merveilleux… O paradis 111339 XP5788 Odéon, Paris 1912

Africaine (Meyerbeer) Pays merveilleux… O paradis P854 50-984 Gramophone, Paris 1930-04-02

Aida (Verdi) O celeste Aida W755 032472 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-18

Aida (Verdi) Ô céleste Aïda W1087 CN343-II Gramophone, Paris, 27 February 1929

Carmen (Bizet) La fleur 111889 xP640 Odéon, Paris, 1914

Carmen (Bizet) La fleur P644 4-32689 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-20

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Moi seul ai tous les torts… Ah, servez de mere P607 4-32646, W755 032471 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-26

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) O Lola (Sicilienne) P615 4-32659 Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-11

Dinorah (Meyerbeer) Les blès 111482 xP5971 Odéon, Paris, April 1913

Favorite (Donizetti) Ange si pur DA4863 50-3819 Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-14

Favorite (Donizetti) Un ange, une femme inconnue DA4863 50-3820 Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-15

Gismonda (Fevrier) Oui, vous etiez l’enjeu splendide P634 4-32682 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-26

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Asile héréditaire 032438 CP278-II Gramophone, Paris, 27 June 1924

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Asile héréditaire P816 BN359-II Gramophone, Paris, 4 March 1929

Hérodiade (Massenet) Jean, je te revois (w. Guyla) DB4907 2PG307-II Gramophone, Paris, 22 November 1932

Herodiade (Massenet) Ne pouvant reprimer DB4844 52-1050 Gramophone, Paris 1932-01-28