Description

LEON LAFFITTE (SAINT-GENIES, 28. 01. 1875 – PARIS, 26. 08. 1938)

 

 

 

 

He studied singing at the Paris Conservatory and made his debut in 1898 at the Paris Grand Opera as David in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In 1900, he appeared at the Grand Opera in the premiere of F. L. R. Joncieres’ Lancelot, followed by Astarte by X. Leroux in 1901. In 1902, he sang the role of Beppe in the Paris premiere of R. Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci.

In 1899, he joined the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he performed with great success, appearing 15 times. Notably, he created the role of Jean in the 1906 premiere of J. Massenet’s Le jongleur de Notre Dame and performed in the premiere of A. Dupuis’ opera Martylle in 1905. He later reprised the role of Jean in 1906 at Covent Garden, London.

Before World War I, he made guest appearances in Germany, Russia, Finland, and Holland. In 1908, he sang in the Paris premiere of Siegfried, partnering with Ernest van Dyck. In 1913, he appeared at the Boston Opera in the American premiere of G. Bizet’s Djamileh, performing alongside Lucille Marcel.

In 1916, he traveled to South America, where he performed at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and in Rio de Janeiro. In 1923, he returned to the Paris Grand Opera to perform in Samson et Dalila by C. Saint-Saëns and La damnation de Faust by H. Berlioz. The following year, in 1924, he appeared at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in the premiere of L. Sachs’ opera Les Burgraves. He retired from the stage at the end of the following season.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1898 Paris Grand Opera Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (David)

1902 Paris Grand Opera Pagliacci (Beppe)

1906 Brussels Theatre de la Monnaie Le jongleur de Notre Dame (Jean)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Manon (Massenet): Ah fuyez, douce image 32104 624G G&T, Paris 1901
2. Sigurd (Reyer): J’ai garde mon ame ingenue 32987 3750G G&T, Paris 1901
3. Sigurd (Reyer): Prince du Rhin 32988  3751G G&T, Paris 1901
4. Sigurd (Reyer): Un souvenir poignant 32093 643G G&T, Paris 1901
5. Roi d’Ys (Lalo): Aubade 32993 3754G G&T, Paris 1901
6. Prophete (Meyerbeer): Roi du Ciel  42989  3765G G&T, Paris 1901
7. Reine de Saba (Gounod): Faiblesse de la race humaine 32094 648G G&T, Paris 1901
8. Favorite (Donizetti): Un ange, une femme inconnue 32100 650G G&T, Paris 1901
9. Manon (Massenet): Ah fuyez, douce image X-2174 Zonophone, Paris 1903?
10. Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Plus blanche que la blanche ermine X-2177 Zonophone, Paris 1903?
11. Faust (Gounod) Cavatine X-2175 Zonophone, Paris 1903
12. Faust (Gounod) Duo (w. Baër) X-2186 Zonophone, Paris 1903
13. Rigoletto (Verdi) Comme la plume au vent 50379 Columbia, Paris 1904