René Lapelletrie (Tenor) (Libourne, Gironde 1884 – Bordeaux 1956)

He studied at the Geneva Conservatory under Leopold Ketten. He debuted in 1908 at the Théâtre Trianon-Lyrique in Paris and then sang from 1909-11 at the opera house of Dijon, in the 1911-12 season at the opera house of Nice, from 1912-14 at the opera theatre of Marseille. Since 1911 he was staying almost annually at the opera theatre of Vichy, where he was a star during 1920’s. In 1914 he was engaged him by the opera house of Champs-Élysées in Paris where he had a sensational success in ‘’Benvenuto Cellini’’ of Berlioz. Since 1919 he was to be heard at the Opéra-Comique and at the Théâtre Gaîté-Lyrique in Paris. He debuted in 1919 at the Opéra-Comique as Werther and remained there till 1928. He sang at the Opéra-Comique among other things in ‘’Hoffmann's stories’’, ‘’Carmen’’, ‘’Manon’’, ‘’Le Roi d'Ys’’, ‘’Lakmé’’, ‘’Louise’’ and appeared in the premieres of the operas ‘’Lorenzaccio’’ of E. Moret (1920), ‘’Le Sauteriot’’ of Silvio Lazzari (1920) and ‘’Quand la cloche sonnera’’ of A. Bachelet (1922). In 1928 he guested in Vienna, in 1931 with the ensemble of the Opéra-Comique appeared at the opera house of Cologne as José in ‘’Carmen’’. In 1928 and 1929 he performed in Amsterdam as José; otherwise, however, he has appeared a little outside France as a guest, while he guested at the opera houses of Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Montpellier. After the second world war he appeared again at the Paris Opéra-Comique, now in Buffo roles and till 1950 in Comprimario parts. Then he lived as a pedagogue in Bordeaux, where he since 1941 worked at the conservatory.

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

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris 1908-01-01

Galathée (Massé): Ah! qu'il est doux de ne rien faire (Air de la paresse) 97214

Odeon, Paris 1909-01-01

Cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Même sans consulter with  Bakkers 73169 Po555
Cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Je ne sais comment faire! 73171 Po559

Odeon, Paris 1911-03?
La Fille du Régiment (Donizetti): Pour me rapprocher de Marie 97704

Odeon, Paris 1911-03?
Songe d'une Nuit d'Été (Thomas): Où suis-je, est-ce un prestige? X97702 XP5132

Mignon (Thomas): Ah! que ton âme enfin dans mon âme s'épanche X97748 XP5134
Si j'étais roi (Adam) Un regard de ses yeux  X97718 XP5143

Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-14
Vivandière (Godard): Laisse glisser tes yeux P419 4-32392
Maître Pathélin (Bazin): Je pense à vous quand je m'éveille W424 032336

Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-16
Mignon (Thomas): Ah, que ton âme P419 4-32391
Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Viens, gentille dame W424 032335

Gramophone, Paris 1919-06-17

Muette de Portici (Auber): Ferme tes yeux U30 4-32403
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Des rayons de l'aurore P422 4-32404

Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-23

Werther (Massenet): Oui, c'est moi (Le retour de Werther) with Marie Charbonnel  034207 Y58

Gramophone, Paris 1920-02-25
Le crucifix (Faure) with Charbonnel and Rouard W435 034211
Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Au fond du temple saint with Rouard Y60 034212

Gramophone, Paris 1920-04-16
Gismonda (Février): Oui, vous étiez l'enjeu splendide U36 4-32433

Gramophone, Paris 1920-04-21

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): D'un metal si precieux with Andre Bauge Y65 034217

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Pour qu'il ait moins de defiance with Andre Bauge Y65 034218

Gramophone, Paris 1920-04-30
Carmen (Bizet): Halte-là!  P395 4-32457

Gramophone, Paris 1920-06-02
Marouf (Rabaud): La carovane 4-32424

Marouf (Rabaud): Il est des musulmans W410 032390

Polydor, Paris 1931?
Faust (Gounod): Cavatine 566 071