Description

GASTON DUBOIS (? 1879 – ?)

 

 

 

He studied at the Paris Conservatory under Paul Lhérie. His debut occurred in 1901 at the Grand Opéra in Paris as Vasco in Meyerbeer’s L’Africaine. He was a member of the Grand Opéra from 1902 to 1911, then moved to the Opéra-Comique. He returned to the Grand Opéra in 1919, where he expanded his repertoire to include character parts.

He was noted for his performances in the role of Narraboth in the premiere of Strauss’ Salome (1907), Nicias in Massenet’s Thaïs, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and various roles in French opera such as Don José in Carmen, De Grieux in Massenet’s Manon, Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Werther in Werther, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Erik in Der fliegende Holländer.

On June 2, 1922, he performed in the premiere of Stravinsky’s Renard at the Grand Opéra. He was admired for his performances in Monte Carlo and Nice, including in the premieres of d’Harcourt’s Tasso (1903) and Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (1925).

He also appeared with his wife, mezzo-soprano Tina Dubois-Lauger, at the opera house in Rio de Janeiro in 1918. He continued performing in smaller roles in Monte Carlo until 1930 and was active as a director there. He spent his later years in Nice, where he was still living in 1952.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1901 Paris Grand Opéra Africaine (Vasco)

1917-1918 Barcelona Teatro Liceu Thais (Nicias)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Faust (Gounod) Trio (w. Lauger Dubois & Fournets) 8392 Homophone

Faust (Gounod) Trio finale (w. Landouzy & Ananian) 56094 XP3532 Odeon, Paris 1907-09

Galathée (Massé) Ah! qu’il est doux de ne rien faire 17988 Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1906

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Plus blanche 2040 5228 Neron

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Sous le beau ciel Meyerbeer 3-32773 5367h G&T, Paris 1907

Lakmé (Delibes) C’est le Dieu de la jeunesse (w. Landouzy) 56171 XP3765 Odeon, Paris 1907

Lakmé (Delibes) Oubliez que je l’ai vu (w. Landouzy) 56168 XP3756 Odeon, Paris 1907

Manon (Massenet) Et je sais votre nom 1-9079 674-t Favorite, Paris 1906

Manon (Massenet) Nous irons à Paris with Lise Landouzy Odeon 56167 XP3750

Manon (Massenet) Nous vivrons à Paris tous les deux (w. Laute-Brun) 1-9080 675-t Favorite, Paris 1906

Meistersinger (Wagner) Am stillen Herd E. 5230 806w Eden, Paris 1906

Mireille (Gounod) Chanson de Magali (w. Landouzy) 56166 XP3749 Odeon, Paris 1907

Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) Au fond du temple saint… Mais à travers la foule (w. Rigaux) 60450, 60451, XP3618, XP3619, Odeon, Paris 1907

Pensée d’automne (Massenet) Edison BA 27113 Edison 4-min cylinders, Paris 1908/1909