Description

RENÉ LAPELLETRIE (LIBOURNE, GIRONDE, 2 NOVEMBER, 1884 – BORDEAUX, 1956)

 

 

 

 

He studied at the Geneva Conservatory under Leopold Ketten and made his debut in 1908 at the Théâtre Trianon-Lyrique in Paris. From 1909 to 1911, he sang at the opera house of Dijon, followed by engagements at the opera house of Nice during the 1911-12 season and at the opera theatre of Marseille from 1912 to 1914. He also became a regular performer at the opera theatre of Vichy, where he was a star during the 1920s.

In 1914, he had a sensational success at the opera house of Champs-Élysées in Paris, notably in Berlioz’s Benvenuto Cellini. From 1919 onwards, he was a frequent performer at the Opéra-Comique and the Théâtre Gaîté-Lyrique in Paris. He made his Opéra-Comique debut in 1919 as Werther, remaining there until 1928. During his time at the Opéra-Comique, he performed in works such as Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Carmen, Manon, Le Roi d’Ys, Lakmé, Louise, and participated in the premieres of Lorenzaccio by Ernest Moret (1920), Le Sauteriot by Silvio Lazzari (1920), and Quand la cloche sonnera by Alfred Bachelet (1922).

In 1928, he gave guest performances in Vienna, and in 1931, with the ensemble of the Opéra-Comique, he appeared at the opera house in Cologne as Don José in Carmen. He also performed in Amsterdam in 1928 and 1929 as José. Although he appeared sparingly outside France, he was a frequent guest at the opera houses of Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, and Montpellier.

After World War II, he returned to the Paris Opéra-Comique, transitioning to buffo and comprimario roles until 1950. He later became a voice teacher in Bordeaux, where he had been working at the conservatory since 1941.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1908 Paris  Théâtre Trianon-Lyrique

1909-1911 Dijon Opera House

1911-1912 Nice Opera House

1912-1914 Marseille Opera House

1914 Paris  Champs-Élysées

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Des rayons de l’aurore P422 4-32404 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-17
2. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) D’un metal si precieux… Pour qu’il ait moins de defiance (w. Bauge) Y65 034217,  Y65 034218 Gramophone, Paris1920-04-21
3. Carmen (Bizet) C’est toi!… Mais moi, Carmen (w. Charbonnel) 034209, 034210, 03315v, 03316v Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-23
4. Carmen (Bizet) Halte-là!  P395 4-32457 Gramophone, Paris 1920-04-30
5. Carmen (Bizet) Je vais danser en votre honneur (w. Charbonnel) Y68 034223 Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-25
6. Carmen (Bizet) Là-bas dans la montagne (w. Charbonnel) Y68 034224 Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-25
7. Châlet (Adam) Elle est à moi, c’est ma compagne X97717 XP5137 Odeon, Paris 1911-03
8. Cloches de Corneville (Planquette) Je ne sais comment faire! 73171 Po559 Odeon, Paris 1909-01-01
9. Cloches de Corneville (Planquette) Même sans consulter (w. Bakkers) 73169 Po555 Odeon, Paris 1909-01-01
10. Cloches de Corneville (Planquette) Va, petit mousse X97719 XP5140 Odeon, Paris 1911-03
11. Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu) Ah quel plaisir d’être soldat 4-32387 20600b Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-14
12. Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu) Viens, gentille dame W424 032335 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-16
13. Faust (Gounod) Cavatine 566 071 Polydor, Paris 1931
14. Galathée (Massé) Ah! qu’il est doux de ne rien faire (Air de la paresse) 97214 Odeon, Paris 1908-01-01