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 debut 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

 

Lydia (Fauré) 561022 3780BKP Polydor, Paris 1930

Manon (Massenet) Ah fuyez, douce image 2-32807 1798F G&T, Paris 1903

Manon (Massenet) Ah fuyez, douce image D9157 38788-R-3 Dutreih, Paris 1905

Manon (Massenet) En fermant les yeux (w. J Rousselière, not on label) 2-32806 1796F G&T, Paris 1903

Manon (Massenet) En fermant les yeux 3327 Odeon, 1903

Manon (Massenet) Et je sais votre nom (w. J Rousselière) 34011 1794F G&T, Paris 1903

Manon (Massenet) Nous vivrons à Paris (w. J Rousselière) 34012 1795F G&T, Paris 1903

Martha (Flotow) Lorsqu’à mes yeux 2-32854 1886F G&T, Paris 1903

Mireille (Gounod) Anges du Paradis 2-32816 1802F G&T, Paris 1903

Mireille (Gounod) O Magali with J. Rousselière  34009 1712F G&T, Paris 1903

Mon petit Pierrot (Leoncavallo) 2-32919 2135F G&T, Paris 1903

Noël Païen (Massenet) 566065 1950½BMP Polydor, Paris 1930

Nuit devant la mer (Nerini) 561022 3777BKP Polydor, Paris 1930

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Pauvre Paillasse D9154 72585 Dutreih, Paris 1905

Paillasse (Leoncavallo) Pauvre Paillasse 2-32752 1673-P1 G&T, Paris 1903