Fernand Francell (Tenor) (Paris 1880 - Paris 1966)

He studied singing at the Paris Conservatoire. He made his debut in 1906 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris as Vincent in ‘’Mireille’’ of Gounod. In 1908 he sang with great success at the Théâtre Gaîté Lyrique in Paris as Wilhelm Meister in ‘’Mignon’’ opposte Jeanne Marié de l'Isle. He had a long, successful career at the Opéra-Comique, where he appeared in a huge number of important premieres. Thus in 1914 he appeared  as Paco in the première of ‘’La vida breve’’ of de Falla; also in the premieres of the operas ‘’Le Bonhomme Jadis’’ of É. Jacques-Dalcroze (8. 1. 1906), ‘’Fortunio’’ of Messager (5. 6. 1907), ‘’La Habanéra’’ of Raoul Laparra (26. 2. 1908), ‘’Chiquito’’ (30. 10. 1909) and ‘’La Danseuse de Pompéi’’ (29. 10. 1912) of Jean Nouguès, ‘’Le Mariage de Télémaque’’ of Claude Terrasse (4. 5. 1910), ‘’Le voile du Bonheur’’ of Charles Pons (26. 4. 1911) as well as in the premiere of the opera ‘’Francesca da Rimini’’ of Franco Leoni (30. 12. 1913). Beyond France he appeared barely. After retiring from the stage he was long years a professor at the Paris Conservatoire. His daughter, Marcelline Francell, also appeared as a singer at the Opéra-Comique.

Chronology of some appearances

1906 Paris  Opéra-Comique Mireille (Vincent)

1906 Paris  Opéra-Comique Le Bonhomme Jadis

1907 Paris  Opéra-Comique Fortunio

1908 Paris  Théâtre Gaîté Lyrique Mignon (Wilhelm Meister)

1908 Paris  Opéra-Comique La Habanéra

1909 Paris  Opéra-Comique Chiquito

1910 Paris  Opéra-Comique Le Mariage de Télémaque

1911 Paris  Opéra-Comique Le voile du Bonheur

1912 Paris  Opéra-Comique La Danseuse de Pompéi

1913 Paris  Opéra-Comique Francesca da Rimini

1914 Paris  Opéra-Comique La vida breve

RECORDING FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris  1909-04-01

Traviata (Verdi): De ma folle jeunesse 97389 xP 4721
Fortunio (Messager): Si vous croyez que je vais dire  97395 xP 4754

Disque Eden
Mignon (Thomas): Adieu, Mignon

Lyraphon

Fortunio (Messager): J'amais La Vielle Maison Grise  3088