Louis Dister (Tenor) (Combien La Tour (Liege/Luik) 1887 - Comblain-la-Tour, Belgium 1964)

                                                                  Werther

                                                                  Pinkerton

He studied at the Conservatory of Liège and made his debut at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels in R. Strauss's ‘’Salome’’ (1907).  He sang there as a guest in the 1918-1919, 1926-1927, 1927-1930 and 1931-1932 seasons. His repertoire included Turiddo (''Cavalleria Rusticana''), Noureddine (''Le Khadi Dupé''), Mergy (''Le Pré aux Clercs''), Shahabarim (''Salammbo''), Pinkerton (''Madama Butterfly''), Cavaradossi (''Tosca''), Gerald (''Lakmé''), Vincent (''Mireille''), Hoffmann (''Les contes d'Hoffmann''), Tamino (''Zauberflöte''), Don José (''Carmen''), Werther, hertog van Mantua (''Rigoletto''), Rodolfo (''Bohème''), Alfredo (''Traviata''), Des Grieux (''Manon'') en Wilhelm Meister (''Mignon''). In the 1909-1910 season he made guest appearance at the Royal Flemish Opera of Antwerp in G. Charpentier's ‘’Louise’’. In 1921 and from 1923 to 1925 he again appeared in thisd opera house. He sang at the Opera of Ghent in the 1912-1913, 1920-1921 and 1932-1933 seasons. He performed at the Opera of Verviers in 1925 as Alfredo in ‘’La Traviata’’. In  1929 here he sang  the role of Rodolfo in ‘’La Bohème’’ and the next year appeared as Gerald in ‘’Lakmé’’. He performed not only at the 'Opéra Royal de Wallonie  in Liège, but also in Geneva, Lyon and Bordeaux. At the Theatre Royal de La Haye ('s Gravenhage/Den Haag) he made his debut in ‘’Faust’’ (1909). In Netherlands his last performance was in 1929 as Wilhelm Meister in ‘’Mignon’’ by A. Thomas. He made for the label Columbia multiple recordings from 1930 until the end of his career.

Chronology of some appearances

1907 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1909  La Haye Theatre Royal

1909-1910 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1912-1913 Ghent Opera

1918-1919 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1920-1921 Ghent Opera

1921 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1923 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1925 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera

1925 Verviers Opera

1926-1927 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1927-1930 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1930 Verviers Opera

1931-1932 Brussels Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

1932-1933 Ghent Opera

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia 1929-03-28
Lakmé (Delibes): D'où viens-tu? with Annette Talifert  D14248 WLX 949
Boheme (Puccini): Che gelida manina D14246
Mignon (Thomas):  Elle ne croyait pas D14246
Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia

Columbia, 1929-03-29
Lakmé (Delibes): Fantaisie des mensonges D14248 WLX 952