Description

LÉON ESCALAÏS (LÉONCE-ANTOINE ESCALAÏS) (CUXAC-D’AUDE, 8 AUGUST, 1859 – PARIS, 8 NOVEMBER, 1941)

 

 

 

 

He began his vocal studies as a young man at the Music Conservatory of Toulouse, where he won prizes for singing and opera performance. He continued his training at the Paris Conservatory under the renowned teachers Crosti and Obin before making his professional debut in 1882 at the Théâtre du Château (Paris) in Jean-Baptiste Duvernoy’s Sardanapale. Soon after, Escalaïs was offered a contract with the Paris Opéra, making his first appearance there at the Palais Garnier in 1883 as Arnold in Guillaume Tell, a role that would become one of his signatures.

Two years later, he made his debut at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, and in 1888, he performed for the first time at La Scala in Milan. After a disagreement with the Paris Opéra management in 1892, he left the company and took up engagements in cities like Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, and throughout Italy. During this period, he undertook demanding roles such as Eléazar in La Juive, Robert in Robert le diable, Raoul in Les Huguenots, Vasco in L’Africaine, and the title roles in Le Cid and Sigurd.

Between 1892 and 1908, Escalaïs sang more frequently in Italy than in France, adding to his repertoire key Verdi roles, including Manrico in Il trovatore, Radamès in Aida, and the title role in Otello. His powerful voice and heroic style earned him the nickname “the French Tamagno,” after the famous Italian tenor Francesco Tamagno. In 1908, Escalaïs rejoined the Paris Opéra and, the following year, made his only American appearances as a guest artist at the New Orleans Opera House.

He retired from the stage in 1912, still in excellent voice, and in 1927 was appointed to the Legion of Honour by the French government. In retirement, he gave private singing lessons, one of his notable students being José Luccioni, a distinguished dramatic tenor of the 1930s and 1940s. Escalaïs passed away in Paris during the Second World War.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1886 Paris Theatre de l’Opera (Palais Garnier) “La juive” with Lucie D’Alvar (Rachel), Muratet (prince Léopold), Léon Laffitte (heraut) and d’Ervilly (princesse Eudoxie).

1890 Paris Theatre de l’Opera (Palais Garnier) “Zaire” with Emma Eames (Zaire), Dumenil (captive), Henri Jérôme (Nérestan), Jean-François Delmas (Orosmane) and Ragneau (Hassan).

1908 Paris Theatre de l’Opera (Palais Garnier) “Aida” with Agnes Borgo (Aida), Jeanne Passama (Amneris), Jean Noté (Amonasro) and Pierre d’Assy (Ramphis).

1910 Paris Theatre de l’Opera (Palais Garnier) “Aida” with Aurore Marcia (Aida), Jeanne Passama (Amneris), Jean Note (Amonasro) and Pierre d’Assy (Ramphis).

1910 Theatre de la Gaite-Lyrique Paris “La juive” with Chambellan (princesse Eudoxie), Félia Litvinne (Rachel), Genicot (prince Léopold) and Barrau (Albert).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) O paradis 39426 Xph 491 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-27
2. Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida (in french) unpubl. Xph465 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-14
3. Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida 39532 XPh1677 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-03-02
4. Cid (Massenet) O Souverain 39563 Xph1720 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-03-20
5. Guglielmo Tell (Rossini) Troncar suoi di… La Gloria infiammi (w. Luppi & Magini-Coletti) 39196 Xph433, 39342 XPh432 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-07
6. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Asile héréditaire 39427 XPh489 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-24
7. Hérodiade (Massenet) Adieu donc, vains objets unpubl XPh1669 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-02-28
8. Hosanna (Granier) 39431 XPh384 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-10-10
9. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Vendicar l’affronto (w. Magini-Coletti, Corradetti, Luppi, Sala, Algos & Masotti) 39370 XPh473 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-18
10. Jerusalem (Verdi) Je veux encore entendre 39562 Xph1719 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-03-20
11. Juive (Halevy) Dieu m’claire 39379 Xph468 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-14
12. Juive (Halévy) Dio m’ispira 39362 XPh448 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-10
13. Juive (Halevy) Rachel quand du Seigneur 39428 Xph466 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-14
14. Juive (Halévy) Rachele, allor che Iddio 39573 XPh1658 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-02-24
15. Lombardi (Verdi) La mia letizia 39533 XPh1641 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-02-21