Etienne Billot (Basso) (Béziers 1879 - Marseille 1962)

After his study in Paris he made his debut in 1903 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris as Nilakantha in ‘’Lakmé’’ of Delibes. In 1904 he sang there in the Paris première of the opera ‘’Le jongleur de Notre Dame’’ of Massenet, the next year he appeared in the premiere of the opera ‘’Les Pêcheurs de Saint-Jean’’ of Charles-Marie Widor. He remained a member of the Opéra-Comique till 1908. In the 1908-14 seasons he belonged to the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he appeared among other things on 7. 3. 1910 in the premiere of the opera ‘’Éros Vainqueur’’ of Philippe de Bréville. In 1911 he sang in Brussels in the premières of ‘’Elektra’’ (Richard Strauss) and ‘’Quo vadis?’’ of Nouguès. In 1914 he appeared in Paris in the first performances of R. Wagner’s ‘’Parsifal’’ and ‘’Feuersnot’’ of  R. Strauss (1911). Since 1914 he appeared at the French provincial theatres, among other things at the opera houses of Marseille, Rouen, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Strasbourg. In 1929 he gave a guest performance in Amsterdam and appeared during the 1930’s still as a guest at the Opéra-Comique. At the Opera House of Monte Carlo he made guest appearances in 1915, 1920, 1928, 1929 and 1943. Later he worked as a pedagogue in Marseille.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Paris Opéra-Comique Lakme (Nilakantha)

1904 Paris Opéra-Comique Le jongleur de Notre Dame

1905 Paris Opéra-Comique Les Pêcheurs de Saint-Jean

1908-1914 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie 

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris 1907

Africaine (Meyerbeer):  Septuor, pt 1 with  Dubois, Lauger-Dubois, Amelia Talexis, Regis, Rigaux,  Landouzy  56132 XP3642

Africaine (Meyerbeer):  Septuor, pt 2 with Dubois, Lauger-Dubois, Amelia Talexis, Regis, Rigaux and  Landouzy 56148 XP3643

Boheme (Puccini): Addio, dolce svegliare with Landouzy,  Dubois and Lauger-Dubois 56157XP3688

Boheme (Puccini):  Part2 with Landouzy, Dubois andger-Dubois 56151 XP3689

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Quatuor de la chambre with  Lauger-Dubois, Rigaux and Landouzy 56135 XP3655

Traviata (Verdi): Septuor with  Lauger-Dubois, Dubois, Régis, Rigaux, Landouzy and Maletti 56146 XP3644
Faust (Gounod): Duo, act 1, pt 1 with  Affre 60328 XP3361

Odeon, Paris 1927-05
Walküre (Wagner) Les adieux du Wotan, pt 1 171.038 xxP6495
Walküre (Wagner) Les adieux du Wotan, pt 2 171.038 xxP6496

Odeon, Paris 1930-05-26
Pelléas et Mélisande (Debussy): A mon age 188.732 Ki-3326

Pelléas et Mélisande (Debussy): Il avait toujours suivi 188.732 Ki-3327