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. Gismonda (Février) Oui, vous étiez l’enjeu splendide U36 (4-32433) Gramophone, Paris 1920-04-16
2. La Fille du Régiment (Donizetti) Pour me rapprocher de Marie 97704 Odeon, Paris 1911-03
3. Le crucifix (Faure) with Charbonnel and Rouard W435 034211 Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-25
4. Lustige Witwe (Lehár) Heure exquise (w. Marelly) X97411 XP4826 Odeon, Paris 1909-05
5. Lustige Witwe (Lehár) Viens dans ce joli pavillon (w. Marelly) X97416 XP4831 Odeon, Paris 1909-05
6. Maître Pathélin (Bazin) Je pense à vous quand je m’éveille W424 032336 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-14
7. Marouf (Rabaud) Il est des musulmans W410 032390 Gramophone, Paris 1920-06-02
8. Marouf (Rabaud) La carovane 4-32424 Gramophone, Paris 1920-06-02
9. Mignon (Thomas) Ah, que ton âme P419 4-32391 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-16
10. Muette de Portici (Auber) Ferme tes yeux U30 4-32403 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-17
11. Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) Au fond du temple saint (w. Rouard) Y60 034212 Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-25
12. Si j’étais roi (Adam) Un regard de ses yeux  X97718 XP5143 Odeon, Paris 1911-03
13. Songe d’une Nuit d’Été (Thomas) Où suis-je, est-ce un prestige X97702 XP5132 Odeon, Paris 1911-03
14. Vivandière (Godard) Laisse glisser tes yeux P419 4-32392 Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-14
15. Werther (Massenet) Oui, c’est moi… N’achevez pas (w. Charbonnel) 034207, 034208, 03318v, 03317v Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-23