Description

DAVID DEVRIÈS (BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, FRANCE, 14 FEBRUARY, 1881- NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE, 17 JULY, 1936)

He made his debut in 1904 at the Théâtre Montparnasse as Gérald in Lakmé, but the main part of his career was devoted to the Opéra-Comique, where he sang roles such as Almaviva, Don José, Armand in Massenet’s Thérèse, Alfredo, Jean in Massenet’s Sapho, Clément in Messager’s La Basoche, Vincent in Mireille, Wilhelm in Mignon, Des Grieux, Werther, Julien, Pinkerton, Cavaradossi, and many others. In 1909, he took part in the revival of Boieldieu’s La Dame Blanche and remained a paradigmatic Georges Brown. That same year, he went to New York, invited by Oscar Hammerstein, to sing at the Manhattan Theatre, where he performed various roles, including Ange Pitou in Lecocq’s La Fille de Madame Angot and Sylvain in Maillart’s Les Dragons de Villars.

More importantly, during this time, he sang the role of Pelléas in Debussy’s masterwork for the first time in his career. Still in America, alongside Mary Garden, he performed as Araquil in La Navarraise and Alain in Grisélidis. Interestingly, Garden had taken over the title role in Massenet’s Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame, originally composed for a tenor. However, when she was traveling, Devries also sang this role, giving local audiences the opportunity to hear the part in both soprano and tenor versions.

Later, he sang Pelléas at Covent Garden and Nicias (from Thaïs) in Monte Carlo. In Nice, he created the role of Paco in the world premiere of Falla’s La Vida Breve. He also performed as a soloist in recitals and concerts, singing in St. Matthew Passion as well as in Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust.

TRACKLIST

1. Griselidis (Massenet) Je suis l’oiseau 188.523 Ki 1199-1 Odeon, Paris 1927-04 (end)
2. Griselidis (Massenet) Ouvrez-vous sur mon front 188.523 Ki 1216-2 Odeon, Paris 1927-05
3. Jocelyn (Godard) Caches dans cet asile… Oh ne t’eveille pas encore 166.257 Ki 3739-2 Odeon, Paris 1928-04-26
4. Jongleur de Notre Dame (Massenet) C’est elle que mon coeur 171.034 XXP6490 Odeon, Paris 1927-05
5. La Dame Blanche (Boildieu) Viens gentille dame 188.795 Ki 3988-1 Odeon, Paris 1928-04-26
6. La Marseillaise (de l’Isle) (w. Dangès, Nansen & Belhomme) 0808 Pathé, Paris 1910/1911
7. Lakmé (Delibes) Ah, viens dans la forêt 0072 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1904/1905
8. Lakmé (Delibes) Fantaisie aux divin mensonge 123.715 XXP 7125 Odeon, Paris 1930-09-16
9. Lakmé (Delibes) Prendre le dessin d’un bijou 0044 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1904/1905
10. Le régiment de Sambre-et-Meuse (Planquette) (w. Belhomme, Dangès & de Poumayrac) 0840 Pathé, Paris 1910/1911
11. Le Roi d’Ys (Lalo) Vainement ma bien aimee 70021 C-8788 Victor, 1910-04-04
12. Les allobroges (Desaix) (w. Belhomme, Dangès & de Poumayrac) 0858 Pathé, Paris 1910/1911
13. Les ânes du Caire (Nerini) 188.596 Ki1763 Odeon, Paris 1928-07-05
14. Les montagnards (Roland) (w. Belhomme, A Gilly & Dangès) 0770 Pathé, Paris 1910/1911
15. Les Pecheurs de Perles (Bizet) Je crois entendre encore 123.729 XXP 7155-1 Odeon, Paris 1930-10-27
16. Les roses d’Ispahan, Op.39 No.4 (de Lisle-Fauré) 123.553 XXP 6673 Odeon, Paris 1928-05-23
17. L’estudiantina (Lacôme) (w. Danges, Nansen & Belhomme) 0806 Pathé, Paris 1910/1911
18. Lohengrin (Wagner) Adieux de Lohengrin 0081 Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1904/1905
19. Manon (Massenet) Instant charmant… En fermant les yeux 188.505 Ki1079 Odeon, Paris 1927-01/02