Description

CHARLES ROUSSELIÈRE (SAINT-NAZAIRE-D’AUDE, 17 JANUARY, 1875 – JOUÉ-LÈS-TOURS, 11 MAY, 1950)

 

 

 

 

Originally a blacksmith by trade, he studied with Albert Vaguet at the Paris Conservatoire and made his début at the Opéra as Samson in 1900. The following year he sang in the première of Camille Saint-Saëns’s Les barbares, and he remained with the company until 1905. Until 1919 he was a favourite at Monte Carlo, where he appeared first in La damnation de Faust; premières there included Pietro Mascagni’s Amica, Saint-Saëns’s L’ancêtre and Gabriel Fauré’s Pénélope. His début at the Metropolitan in Roméo et Juliette in 1906 coincided with that of Geraldine Farrar , who received more attention; his dramatic skill was appreciated but the power of his voice, sometimes strident, suggested that he should turn to more heroic roles. This he did on his return to France, adding Otello, Lohengrin, Siegfried and Parsifal to his repertory. He also appeared in Berlin, Buenos Aires and Milan, and in his later years sang mostly at the Opéra-Comique where in 1913 he created the title role in Gustave Charpentier’s Julien. His varied repertory is well represented in recordings made between 1903 and 1926: his voice is strong and clearly defined, his style authoritative in declamation and well mannered in more lyrical music.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1905 Montecarlo Teatro del Casinî Amica (Giorgio)

1906 New York Teatro Metropolitan Dannazione di Faust (Faust)

1907 New York Teatro Metropolitan Carmen (Don Jose)

1907 Montevideo Teatro Solis Don Carlo (Carlo)

1909 Roma Teatro Costanzi Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

1911 Palermo Teatro Massimo Don Carlo (Carlo)

1911 Madrid Teatro Reale Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

 

TRACKLIST

 

Ai cimitière (Saint-Saëns) 2-32758 1691F G&T, Paris 1903

Aida (Verdi) Mourir, ô toi si belle D9149 41305 Dutreih, Paris 1905

Aida (Verdi) O céleste Aida 2-32855 1887F G&T, Paris 1903

Aimons-nous (Saint-Saëns) 2-32817 1804F G&T, Paris 1903

Ariane (Massenet) Romance S 611 Société d’Edition de Disques Artistiques

Barbares (Saint-Saëns) Depuis longtemps 2-32857 1889F G&T, Paris 1903

Barbares (Saint-Saens) Divinités libératrices 2-32856 1888F G&T, Paris 1903

Bohème (Puccini) Ah Mimi s’en est allée (w. A Boyer) 34021 2137F G&T, Paris 1903

Carmen (Bizet) Halte-là! 2-32859 1893F G&T, Paris 1903

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Chanson à boire 2-32873 1998F G&T, Paris 1903

Cri de guerre (Trépard)

Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Invocation à la nature 4710 Pathé, Paris 1907

Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Nature immense 2-32883 2064-P1 G&T, Paris 1903

Faust (Gounod) Il se fait tard… Laisse-moi (w. Agussol) 10118 Beka

Faust (Gounod) Salut, demeure 4713 Pathé, Paris 1907