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

 

 

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Oh! Manon (Ah! Manon mi tradisce) P610 4-32653 Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-11

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Parmi vous, o belles brunes (Tra voi belle) P610 4-32652 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-16

Mattinata (Leoncavallo) (Fr) K6545 50-2131 Gramophone, Paris 1932-01-27

Mattinata (Leoncavallo) (It) P615 4-32658 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-20

Mireille (Gounod) Anges du paradis 111895 xP6414-2 Odéon, Paris, 1914

Otello (Verdi) Dieu, tu pouvais m’infliger (Dio mi potevi scagliar) P609 4-32651 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-19

Otello (Verdi) Dieu, tu pouvais m’infliger DA4835 0PG303-II Gramophone, Paris, 21 November 1932

Otello (Verdi) Que nul ne craigne (Niun mi tema) P609 4-32650 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-19

Otello (Verdi) Que nul ne craigne 111897 xP6418 Odéon, Paris, 1914

Otello (Verdi) Tout m’abandonne (Ora e per sempre addio) P660 4-32716 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-19

Otello (Verdi) Tout m’abandonne, adieu (Ora e per sempre addio) 111338 XP5787 Odeon, Paris 1912

Otello (Verdi) Tout m’abandonne DA4835 0PG324-II Gramophone, Paris, 24 November 1932

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) M’habiller! M’habiller, ah puavre Canio (Recitar… Vesti la giubba) 111337 XP5786 Odeon, Paris 1912

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Me grimer P727 BFR511-I Gramophone, Paris, 8 April 1927

Pardon de Ploërmel (Dinorah) (Meyerbeer) Les blés sont bons à faucher 111482 XP5971 Odeon, Paris 19121913

Pecheurs de perles (Bizet) C’est toi, toi enfin que je revois… Au fond du temple saint with Musy DB4862 52-1103 Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-14

Prophete (Meyerbeer) Pour Berthe U81 4-32621 Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-10

Prophete (Meyerbeer) Roi du Ciel U81 4-32622 Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-10