Albert Alvarez (Tenor) (Bordeaux 1861 - Nice 1933)

His real name is Raymond Gourron. He was first bandmaster of a military chapel, but in 1883 began to study singing under Martini in Paris. 1886 debuted at the Opera of Ghent ain Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’. He then sang in Lyon and Marseille in 1892 and came to the Grand Opera of Paris. He sang on 06.20.1894 in the premiere of Massenet’s “Thaïs” in the role of Nicias, in 1895 sang in the world premiere of “La Montagne Noire” of Augusta Holmès, two years later appeared as Walther von Stolzing in the Paris premiere of  Wagner’s “Meistersinger” (in french language). In 1897 he performed in the world premiere of A. Bruneau’s  ‘’Messidor,” in 1901 in the world premiere of “Astarte” by Xavier Leroux, in 1904 in “Le fils de l’Étoile” by Camille Erlanger. He participated at the Grand Opéra in Paris also in 1896 at the premiere of the opera “Hellé” by Victor Duvernoy, in 1898 in “La Burgonde” by Paul Vidal and in 1905 at the premiere of the opera “Fredegonde” by Ernest Guiraud. In Monte Carlo, he starred in the world premieres of operas “Messaline” De Lara (21/03/1899) and “Hélène” (dedicated to Nellie Melba) of Saint-Saëns (02/18/1904). With Jules Massenet and with the then-known composer Isidore de Lara, he was acquainted. Almost every year guested frequently from 1893 to 1903 at Covent Garden Opera in London. Here he sang on the 20/06/1894 the role of Araquil in the world premiere of the opera “La Navarraise” by Massenet, in 1893 in the world premiere of “Amy Robsart” by Isidore De Lara. In the 1899-1903 seasons he appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York (debut as Roméo in “Roméo et Juliette” by Gounod). In the  1907-08 he undertook a major tour in Belgium and Germany. Then he sang at the Grand Opéra again, and finally he worked as a teacher in Paris.

Chronology of some appearances

1886 Ghent Opera House Faust

1892 Lyon Opera House

1892 Marseille Opera House

1893-1903 London Covent Garden

1894 Paris Grand Opera Thaïs

1895 Paris Grand Opera La Montagne Noire

1896 Hellé Paris Grand Opera

1897 Paris Grand Opera Meistersinger and Messidor

1898 Paris Grand Opera La Burgonde

1899 Monte Carlo Opera House Messaline

1899-1903 New York Metropolitan Opera

1901 Paris Grand Opera Astarte

1904 Paris Grand Opera Le fils de l’Étoile

1905 Paris Grand Opera Fredegonde

1907-08 Belgium and Germany Tour