Description

ÉMILE MARCELIN (HARFLEUR, 3 DECEMBER, 1879 – ROUBAIX, 27 MARCH, 1947)

 

 

 

 

Marcelin’s real name was Émile-Marcel Lucas. In 1907, he took part in a vocal competition for tenors organized by the “Comoedia” magazine. The first prize was won by Paul Franz, while Marcelin took the second prize.

From 1912 onward, he became a prominent member of the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he performed until around 1930. He made his debut there in his signature role, the title character in Werther by Jules Massenet, and subsequently performed many leading roles from both the French and Italian repertoires at the Opéra-Comique.

He was chosen to sing the 500th performances at the Opéra-Comique of both Werther (January 9th, 1919 with Suzanne Brohly and Paul Vidal conducting), and Tosca (June 16th, 1926 with Raymonde Visconti and Elie Cohen conducting).

On July 29th, 1924, he took part in the only performance of La Navarraise at the Opéra with Claudia Victrix, Huberty, Tubiana, Pujol, Guenot, and André Balbis conducting.

After a career of thirty years, Marcelin retired and taught singing at the conservatory in Roubaix.

His son Émile (1906–54), who kept his father’s stage name Marcelin, was a noted composer.

His recordings were issued by His Master’s Voice in both acoustic and electrical formats and included opera arias from his extensive repertoire.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Mireille (Gounod) La brise est douce (w. Brothier) 034221 Y69 Gramophone, Paris 1920-05-28

Mireille (Gounod) La foi de son flambeau with Brothier 034222, Y69 Gramophone, Paris 1920-12-10

Muette de Portici (Auber) Amis, la matinée est belle (Barcarolle) Y77 (032413) Gramophone, Paris 1923-02-20

Navarraise (Massenet) O bien-aimée 4-32421, U34 Gramophone, Paris 1920-05-18

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) O Colombine 4-32531, U61 Gramophone, Paris 1922-11-17

Rigoletto (Verdi) Qu’une belle 4-32443 U40 21360u Gramophone, Paris 1920-05-05

Robert le diable (Meyerbeer) Jadis régnait en Normandie (w. chorus) W736 032465 Gramophone, Paris 1924-10-15

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Console-toi (w. Cesbron-Viseur) 034246, Y76 CS486-1 Gramophone, Paris 1922-10-14

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Où suis-je (w. Cesbron-Viseur) 034245, Y76 CS485-2 Gramophone, Paris 1922-10-14

Werther (Massenet) Je ne sais si je veille… O Nature 032339 Y47 03448v Gramophone, Paris 1921-05-20

Werther (massenet) Lorsque l’enfant revient 4-32414, U31 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-16

Werther (Massenet) Oui, c’est moi… N’achevez pas  (w. Perelli) W851 034298, W851 034299 Gramophone Paris 1926

Werther (Massenet) Pourquoi me reveiller 4-32413, U31 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-16

Zauberflöte (Mozart) Mes yeux contemplent P729 4-32773 Gramophone, Paris 1926-09-28