Georges Jouatte (Tenor) (Monaco 1892 - Paris 1969)

He was the son of a brewer. To finance his studies, he appeared on stage at the Casino de Paris as a dancer. He completed his singing training in Germany. After he had initially only appeared in the concert hall, Georges Jouatte made his stage debut in 1932 at the Théâtre Mogador in Paris. Retraining as a tenor by Paul Cabanel and Louis Fourestier. In 1934 he came to the Grand Opéra of Paris (inaugural role Charles Gounod's ''Faust''). He had great success at this theater in 1936 as an Italian singer in ''Der Rosenkavalier'' by R. Strauss at a performance in the presence of the composer. At the Grand Opéra he was estimated mainly for his Florestan in ''Fidelio'', Admete in ''Alceste'' by Gluck, Don Ottavio in ''Don Giovanni'', Erik in ''The Flying Dutchman'' (1937), Ulysses in ''Penelope'' by Gabriel Fauré and Armal in ''Gwendoline'' by E. Chabrier. Since 1937, Georges Jouatte was also a member of the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he introduced himself as Belmonte in ''Entführung aus dem Serail'' and then in Monteverdi's ''Incoronazione di Poppea''. This was followed by tours of the artist in Austria and Italy. At the Covent Garden Opera he was heard in 1937 as Admete in ''Alceste'' by Gluck; at the Salzburg Festival in 1933 and 1936 in concerts; at the Montreux Festival he sang the tenor solo in Verdi's Requiem conducted by Bruno Walter. In 1946, he sang Tamino in ''Die Zauberflote'' in his farewell performance at the Opéra-Comique. At an early stage Georges Jouatte also appeared as an actor in movies; in 1923 in the German film Land ohne Frauen (Country Without Women) starring Brigitte Helm, and Conrad Veidt. Most recently he worked as a teacher in Paris; the major soprano Régine Crespin was his pupil.

Chronology of some appearances

1932 Paris Théâtre Mogador 

1934 Paris Grand Opéra

1937 Paris Opéra-Comique

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris 1930/1932

L'Attaque du moulin (Bruneau): Adieux à la forêt  123804
Le Barbier de Séville (Rossini): Des Rayons de l'Aurore 188874 Ki 5568
La Juive (Halevy): Rachel quand du seigneur 188874 Ki 5569

Pathe, Paris 1934/1935

Mandrin (Szulc): Les Yeux des femmes  PA 446 CPT1658