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

 

 

Reine de Saba (Gounod) Faiblesse de la race humaine… Inspirez-moi 111284 XP5791 Odeon, Paris 1912

Richard Cœur-de-Lion (Grétry) Si l’univers entier m’oublie 111883 xP6422 Odéon, Paris, 1914

Rigoletto (Verdi) Comme la plume au vent (La donna e mobile) P600 4-32639 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-20

Rigoletto (Verdi) Qu’une belle (Questa o quella) P600 4-32638 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-20

Roi d’Ys (Lalo) A l’autel j’allais rayonnant with Brothier DB4854 52-1083 Gramophone, Paris 1932-01-28

Roi d’Ys (Lalo) Vainement, ma bien aimee DB4854 52-1082 Gramophone, Paris 1932-01-28

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Ah lève-toi soleil 111894 xP6413 Odéon, Paris, 1914

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod) L’amour, l’amour… Ah! Leve-toi, soleil DB4931 52-1282 Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-11

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod) Salut! Tombeau! DB4931 52-1283 Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-11

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens) Arretez, o mes freres P614 4-32656 Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-11

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Arrêtez, ô mes frères, pt. 1, pt. 2 W1069, W1069, CN314-II, CN315-II Gramophone, Paris, 21 February 1929

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens) En ces lieux with with Duchene DB4845 52-1052 Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-15

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens) Israel, romps ta chaine (w. chorus) P614 4-32657 Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-19

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Mais non, que dis-je, hélas with Duchêne DA4820 50-2162 Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-16

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix with Duchêne DA4819 50-2160 Gramophone, Paris 1932-01-27

Sérénade (Schubert) 111892 xP6419-2 Odéon, Paris, 1914

Siegfried (Wagner) Nothung! Nothung! DA4847 50-2728 Gramophone, Paris 1932-11-21