Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Jan 7, 2014

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


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