Jules Godard (Godart) (Tenor) (Quaregon, Belgium 1877 - Le Vésinet, France 1909)

                                                                Lohengrin

His real name was Jules Godarder. He was a pupil of Désiré Demest at the conservatoire of Brussels. In 1905  he made his debut at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. Till 1908 he had there, like at the other Belgian opera theaters (Ghent, Lüttich) a huge success, especially in operas of R. Wagner. In 1908 he appeared for the first time at the Grand Opéra in Paris, namely he sang the part of Lohengrin. He sang there afterwards the part of Samson in ‘’Samson et Dalila’’ and in 1908 replaced Ernest van Dyck as Siegfried in ‘’Götterdämmerung’’ of R. Wagner. In 1909 he became a regular member of the Grand Opéra. In 1909 he performed with great success in C. Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’. On 23. 12. 1909 he died quite suddenly of poisoning. The death occurred under mysterious circumstances, which were never completely cleared up.   

Chronology of some appearances

1905-1908 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie

1908-1909 Paris Grand Opéra

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris 1908-01-01
Die Walküre (Wagner): Liebeslied (Siegmund) Plus d'hiver 97131 xP 4424
Tannhäuser (Wagner): Reine d'amour, à toi mes chants d'ivresse with Amelia Talexis 97132 xP 4427