Pierre Nougaro (Baritone) (Toulouse, France - Marseille, France 1988)

After his education at the  Conservatoire National de Paris he made his debut in 1929 at the Grand Opéra in Paris as an army caller in R. Wagner’s ‘’Lohengrin’’. Here during the following years he had as Rigoletto, Jago in ‘’Otello’’, Amonasro in ‘’Aida’’ and as Scarpia in ‘’Tosca’’ a  huge success. In 1942 he joined to the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he made his debut as Zurga in ‘’Les Pêcheurs de perles’’. Since that time he had in both opera theaters of the French metropolis a significant career. On 2. 10. 1951 he appeared at the Opéra National de Bordeaux in the premiere of the opera ‘’Ivan le Terrible’’ of G. Bizet. Still in 1955 he gave a guest performance at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels in ‘’Monna Vanna’’ of Henri Février. In 1958 he became a manager of the urban Opera Houses of Rennes and Besançon.

Chronology of some appearances

1929 Paris Grand Opéra Lohengrin (The army caller)

1942 Paris Les Pêcheurs de perles (Zurga)

1951 Bordeaux Opéra National Ivan IV (Ivan IV)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Pacific Super
Marche de la 2 D. B. ST 1305 3153

Giuseppina Cobelli (Soprano) (Maderno, Lake Garda, Italia 1898 - Barbarano, nr Salò, Italia 1948)

 Isotta

Kundry

She studied in Bologna and Hamburg, making her début at Piacenza in 1924 as La Gioconda. After a season in the Netherlands, she was engaged by La Scala, making her début as Sieglinde (1925). Her roles included Isolde, Kundry, Fedora, Eboli, Margherita, Minnie and Adriana Lecouvreur, in which part she gave her last performace.

Chronology of some appearances

1924 Piacenza Opera Gioconda (Gioconda)

1925 Holland Italian Opera (-)

1925 Milan La Scala Walküre (Sieglinde)

1925 Florence Teatro Comunale Risurrezione (-)

1925 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón  (-)

1926 Milan La Scala L'Amore dei tre Re (Fiora)

1926 Bologna Teatro Comunale Lohengrin (Elsa)

1927 Santiago de Chile Opera (-)

1929 Florence Teatro Comunale Risurrezione (-)

1929 Genua Teatro Carlo Felice Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)

1931 Milan La Scala  Le notte di of Zoraima (-)

1931 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón (-)

1931 Rio de Janeiro Opera Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana Lecouvreur)

1933 Genua Teatro Carlo Felice Fedora (Fedora)

1934 Milan La Scala La Fiamma (Silvana)

1935 Budapest Opera (-)

1936 Bologna Teatro Comunale Walküre (Sieglinde)

1937 Bologna Teatro Comunale Tristan und Isotta (Isotta)

1937 Firenze Maggio Musicale Figaros Hochzeit (Countess)

1937 Firenze Giardino di Boboli Festival L'Incoronazione di Poppea (Ottavia)
1938 Genua Teatro Carlo Felice Donata (-)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Milano 11- 6-25
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Voi lo sapete 7-253130 R5183
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Suicidio! 7-253147 R5203

Anna Tariol-Bauge (Soprano) (Clermont-Ferrand, France 1872 - ?)

She studied singing under the pedagogues F. M. Boyer and Mme. Peschard and began her career at the Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux. Here she appeared in operas ‘’Carmen’’, ‘’Mignon’’, ‘’Werther’’ and ‘’Faust’’. She made guest appearances in Russia and started to appear with great success in operettas. In Marseille she sang in ‘’Le Royaume des Femmes’’ and in ‘’La Hélène’’ of J. Offenbach. She toured through the French province and North Africa. She made her debut at the Nouveau Théâtre in Paris in ‘’Boccaccio’’ of Suppé and soon had a sensational success. After her appearance at the Théâtre Eldorado in Paris, she became the big star of the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens. Here she took over in the premieres of operettes:

10.12.1898 ‘’ (Agathe) of Messager

? Joséphine in "Joséphine vendue par ses soeurs" of Lecocq.
Her career reached the climax, when she sang the part of Fiorella in J. Offenbach’s operette ‘’Les Brigands’’ in 1900 at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris. later she had there in the title part of ‘’Véronique’’ an excellent success. In 1925 she sang at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in the première of  ‘’Véronique’’ (together with her son). In the end, she appeared in music revues, among other things at the Casino de Paris and at the Moulin Rouge. She was married the music pedagogue Baugé. Their son André Baugé (1892-1966), became a known baritone.

Chronology of some appearances

1898 Paris Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens Véronique (Agathe)

1900 Paris Théâtre des Variétés Les Brigands (Fiorella)

1925 Paris Opéra-Comique Véronique (Agathe ?)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Paris 1906
Fille du Tambour-Major (Offenbach): Chanson de la fille 33597 5470o

Zonophone, Paris 1905
La cruche cassée, Chanson espagnole (Vasseur) X-83060 

Zonophone, Paris 1907
Périchole (Offenbach): Tu n'es pas beau X-83209

Gramophone, Paris 1908-10-19
Brigands (Offenbach): Couplets de Fiorella 33814 6528h

Gramophone, Paris 1908-10-19
Barbe-Bleue (Offenbach): Couplets de la rosière 33809 6531h
Vie Parisienne (Offenbach): Je suis veuve d'un colonel 33815 6529h
Chanson de Fortunio (Offenbach): Si vous croyez que je vais dire 33811 6532h

Zonophone, Paris 1908-11-25

Petit Duc (Lecocq): Le leçon du chant (w. chorus) X-83297

Petit Duc (Lecocq): Le leçon de solfège (w. chorus) X-83298

Gramophone, Paris 1908-11-25

Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein (Offenbach): Dites-lui 33808 14101u
Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein (Offenbach): Ah, que j'aime les militaires 33817 14100u
Belle Hélène (Offenbach): Amours divins 33810 14102u

Gramophone, Paris 1909-03-30
Périchole (Offenbach): L'espagnole et la jeune indienne with Dambrine 34253 14520u

Zonophone, Paris 1909-03-30
Périchole (Offenbach): L'espagnole et la jeune indienne with Dambrine X-84037

Miss Helyett (Audran): Duetto espagnole with Dambrine X-84038

Yvonne Gall (Soprano) (Paris, France 1885 – Paris, France 1972)

She studied singinga at the Conservatoire de Paris under Dubulle. The manager of the Grand Opéra Paris Pierre Gailhard engaged her, before his withdrew from the management of the house. She made her debut as Woglinde in ''Götterdämmerung'' (1908). After several outstanding years in Paris she went to the Chicago Opera where she impressed the critics with her effective acting, using meaningful gestures to depict Tosca's emotions. She was married to the composer Henri Büsser, who wrote ''Les Noces Corinthiennes'' for her. After her retirement she took a position at the Paris Conservatory.

Chronology of some appearances

1908 Paris Grand Opéra Götterdämmerung (Woglinde) (Premiere)

1909 Paris Grand Opéra Rheingold (- ) (Premiere)

1909 Paris Grand Opéra Wilhelm Tell (Mathilde)

1914 Paris Grand Opéra Scémo (-) (Premiere)

1918 Chicago Opera

1919 Chicago Opera Le Chemineau  (-) (Premiere)

1920 Chicago Opera

1920 New York L'Heure of espagnole

1921 Paris Opéra-Comique Les noces corinthiennes  (Premiere)

1923 Opéra de Monte-Carlo Lysistrata (-) (Premiere)

1924 London Covent Garden Tosca (Tosca)

1927 Ravinia Opera

1928 Ravinia Opera

1929 Ravinia Opera

1931 San Francisco Opera

1931 Paris Opéra-Comique Guercoeur (-) (Premiere)

1934 Paris Grand Opéra Faust (Marguerite)

1935 Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Castor et of Pollux (Phébe)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé - A.P.G.A., Paris 1910/1912?
Rigoletto (Verdi): Ma fille!…Mon pere! con with Note 2500

Pathé, Paris 1912

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): Helas! moi le hair with Affre  1508

Pathé, Paris 1918?
Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Nuit d'Hymenée with Marny 2549

Pathé, Paris 1923/1924
Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): Elle a fui la tourterelle 0366 134
Lakmé (Delibes): Pourquoi dans les grands bois 0366 136
Reine de Saba (Gounod): Plus grand dans son obscurité 0411

Pathé, Paris 1925?
Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d'arte 0510

Columbia, Paris 1929-01-10
Tosca (Puccini): Prière D15128 WLX787

Columbia, Paris 1929-01-11
Tosca (Puccini): Notre doux nid D15128 WLX795

Columbia, Paris 1929-12-04
Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Romance de Marguerite, pt 1 LFX5 WLX1192
Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Romance de Marguerite, pt 2 LFX5 WLX1193

Columbia, Paris 1931-05-22
Otello (Verdi): Willow song LFX204 WLX1550

Hélène Sadoven (Mezzo-Soprano) (Finland 1894 - Paris ?)

She studied and debuted during the First World War in Russia. In 1917 she left Russia and came over Finland to Paris. Here she guested several times at the Grand Opéra and at the Opéra Comique. Thus she sang in 1922 at the Grand Opéra in G. Verdi's ''Aida'' as a partner of Claudia Muzio. On 3. 6. 1922 she appeared there in the premiere of I. Strawinsky's ''Mavra''. In 1923 she was to be heard at the Grand Opéra in ''Boris Godunov'' and ''Hérodiade''. In 1924 she sang there the part of Dalila in ''Samson et Dalila'' of C. Saint-Saëns. Often she made guest appearances at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona. When in 1927 in Paris was founded the Opéra Russe, she joined to the ensemble. As a member of the Opéra Russe she guested at La Scala, London, Holland and South America. In 1926 she made guest performance at the Opera in Cairo. In 1928 she performed in Vienna and Berlin, the next year she sang in Madrid. In 1931 she appearedat the London Lyceum Theatre in the English premières of the operas ''The Czar's bride'' and ''Sadko'' of N. Rimsky-Korssakov. In 1938 she was to be found at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. 

Chronology of some appearances

1922 Paris Grand Opéra

1923 Paris Grand Opéra

1924 Paris Grand Opéra

1926 Cairo Opera

1928 Vienna Opera

1928 Berlin Opera

1931 London Lyceum Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

HMV, Paris 1924-10-02

Werther (Massenet): Oui, c'est moi with Ansseau DB783 2-034034

Werther (Massenet): N'achevez pas with Ansseau DB783 2-034035

HMV, Paris 1924-10-03

Carmen (Bizet): C'est toi! C'est moi! with Fernand Ansseau DB784 2-034036

Carmen (Bizet): Mais moi, Carmen, je t'aime encore with Fernand Ansseau DB784 2-034037

HMV, Paris 1931-03-31

Lustige Witwe (Lehár): Vilia EK126 30-7463

HMV, Paris 1931-04-01

Boris Godounov (Moussorgsky): Fountain duet with Nagachevsky EK94 30-6472

HMV, Paris 1931-04-07

Darling girl (Dargomyzhsky) EK106 30-6497

Vanka tanka (Dargomyszky) with Kaidanoff EK106 30-6498

Maurice Renaud (Baritone) (Bordeaux, France 1861 † Paris, France 1933)

His real name was Maurice Croneau. He studied singing at the Conservatoire de Paris, then under Dupont and Gevaert in Brussels. He made his debut in 1884 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels and belonged to the ensemble of this opera house till 1890.

Here he appeared in the premieres of the operas:

1884 ‘’Sigurd’’ (Ernest Reyer)

1886 ‘’Les Templiers’’ (Henry Charles Litolff)

1890 ‘’Salammbô’’ (Ernest Reyer)

1890 ‘’Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’’ (Richard Wagner)

1890 he was engaged by the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he sang in 1891 the part of Nelusco in G. Meyerbeer’s ‘’Africaine’’, then Karnac in ‘’Le roi d'Ys’’ of E. Lalo. Till 1902 he had in this opera houses a huge success. At the Grand Opéra he appeared in the following opera premieres:

1893 ‘’Deidamia’’ (Henri Maréchal)

1894 ‘’Djelma’’ (Charles Lefebvre)

1895 ‘’La Montagne Noire’’ (Augusta Holmès)

1895 ‘’Tannhäuser’’ (Richard Wagner)

1897 ‘’Lohengrin’’ (Richard Wagner)

1897 ‘’Der Ring des Nibelungen’’ (Richard Wagner)

1897 ‘’Messidor’’ (A. Bruneau)

1900 ‘’Lancelot’’ (F. L. R. Joncières)

1903 ‘’La damnation de Faust’’ (Hector Berlioz)

He made successful guest appearances in Milano (La Scala), London (Covent Garden, 1897-1904), St. Petersburg (Court Opera, 1889), Berlin (Court Opera, 1907), Brussels and Monte Carlo.

In North America already in 1893 he sang at the Opera in New Orleans.

His other appearances in opera premieres included:

1898 London Covent Garden ‘’Henri VIII’’ (C. Saint-Saëns)

1899 London Covent Garden ‘’Messaline’’ (Isidore De Lara).

18. 2. 1902 Opéra de Monte-Carlo ‘’Le jongleur de Notre-Dame’’ (J. Massenet)

1904 London Covent Garden ‘’Hérodiade’’ (English première).

14. 2. 1905 Opéra de Monte-Carlo ‘’Chérubin’’ (J. Massenet)

18. 3. 1905 Opéra de Monte-Carlo ‘’Amica’’ (P. Mascangni)

9. 11. 1905 Genoa Teatro Politeama ‘’Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle’’ (Spiro Samara)

24.6.1906 Opéra de Monte-Carlo ‘’Ancêtre’’ (C. Saint-Saëns)

1906 Paris Théâtre Nouveau ‘’Le clown’’ ( Isaac de Camondo)

2. 2. 1907 Opéra de Monte-Carlo ‘’Naïs Micculin’’ (A. Bruneau).
In the 1906-1910 seasons he had a huge success at the Manhattan Opera House in New York, where he made his debut as Rigoletto and appeared among other things in the American première of J. Massenet’s ‘’Thaïs’’ (1907). In 1909 he sang in this opera house in the première of J. Massenet’s ‘’Hérodiade’’ as Herodes. In the 1910-1912 seasons he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Here he made his debut as Rigoletto opposite Nellie Melba in the part of Gilda. He made guest appearances in North America, also in Chicago and Boston. In 1912 he came back to France and retired from the stage in Paris, where he appeared in 1919 again together with Mary Garden in the opera ‘’Cléopâtre’’ of J. Massenet. Around 1920 he appeared in French silent film. He was active in Paris as a vocal pedagogue.

Chronology of some appearances

Athanaël 11/24/1908, Boniface 12/3/1908, Coppélius 12/10/1908, Dr. Miracle 12/10/1908, Dapertutto 12/10/1908, Il barone Scarpia 2/2/1909, Rigoletto 2/18/1909, Il barone Scarpia 2/27/1909, Rigoletto 3/20/1909, Hérode 11/11/1909, Coppélius 12/31/1909, Dr. Miracle 12/31/1909, Dapertutto 12/31/1909, Coppélius 1/18/1910, Dr. Miracle 1/18/1910, Dapertutto 1/18/1910, Athanaël 1/25/1910, Dapertutto 3/26/1910, Hérode 3/26/1910, Athanaël 1/21/1911, 1/24/1911, Coppélius 2/4/1911, Dr. Miracle 2/4/1911, Dapertutto 2/4/1911, Coppélius 2/14/1911, Dr. Miracle 2/14/1911, Dapertutto 2/14/1911, Coppélius 2/20/1911, Dr. Miracle 2/20/1911, Dapertutto 2/20/1911, Rigoletto 2/24/1911, Boniface 3/6/1911, Il barone Scarpia 3/8/1911, Coppélius 3/10/1911, Dr. Miracle 3/10/1911, Dapertutto 3/10/1911, Boniface 3/14/1911, Nero 3/25/1911, Boniface 3/30/1911, Escamillo 2/13/1912, Coppélius / Dr. Miracle / Dapertutto 2/16/1912, Athanaël 2/21/1912, Le grand-prêtre de Dagon 2/26/1912, Boniface 2/27/1912, 2/28/1912, Coppélius 3/6/1912, Dapertutto 3/6/1912, Dr. Miracle 3/6/1912, Athanaël 3/12/1912 (Filadelfia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Paris 1901
Tannhäuser (Wagner): Jadis quand tu luttas 32078 713G
Le soir (Gounod) 32082 717G
Roi de Lahore (Massenet): Promesse de mon avenir (72) 32081 716G

G&T, London 1902
Carmen (Bizet): Air du Toréador 2-2705 2111b
Tannhäuser (Wagner): Romance de l'étoile 2-2702 2113b
Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Sérénade 2-2713 2112b 
Noël Païen (Massenet) 2-2704 2116b 

G&T, Paris 1906
Fliegende Holländer (Wagner): Du temps passé 032039 5715p
Plaisir d'amour (Martini) 032046 5801p
Le rondel de l'adieu (de Lara) 3-32669 5716o

Alexander Griff (Bass) (Tbilisi, Georgia 1887 - Zagreb, Croatia 1962)

First he studied singing at the Warsaw Conservatory, then under Edouard De Reszke. He made his debut in Warsaw as Marcina in ‘’Verbum nobile’’ of S. Moniuszko. In 1913 he went to Paris, to perfect his vocal technique. He appeared in Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Lisbon, Sofia, Prague, Italy, Mexico City and in South America (Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo). In the 1925-1927 seasons he sang at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, from 1927 to 1930 he was a member of the Teatr Wielki in Warsaw. His repertoire included Don Basilio in ‘’Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’, Mephisto in ‘’Faust’’, Fiesco in ‘’Simon Boccanegra’’, King Heinrich in ‘’Lohengrin’’, Pogner in ‘’Meistersingern’’, Pimen in ‘’Boris Godunov’’ and many other parts. His sister was the famous contralto Marta Pospisvil-Griff.

Chronology of some appearances

1925-1927 Zagreb Croatian National Theatre
1927-1930 Warsaw Teatr Wielki

RECORDING FOR SALE

Edison Bell
Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky): Canzone di Varlaam Z. 1153

Maria Minazzi (Soprano)

                                                           

                                                                Nanetta

 Mimi

Chronology of some appearances

1938 Parma Teatro Regio  Mefistofele (Margherita)

1943 Florence Teatro Comunale Falstaff (Nanetta)

1944 Milano Teatro Lirico Concert

RECORDINGS FOR SALE 

Parlophone-Odeon

La Rondine (Puccini): Che il bel sogno di Doretta  RO30004

Manon (Massenet): Adieu notre petite table RO30004

Alexander Binicki (Tenor) (Belgrad, Serbia 1885 - Zagreb, Croatia 1963)

He studied singing at the Musical Academy of Munich. Since 1910  he appeared in Belgrad, from 1911 in Zagreb. His repertoire included Goro in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’, Don Basilio in ‘’Nozze di Figaro’’, Floridor in ‘’ Mademoiselle Nitush’’ and Vashek in ‘’ Prodana nevesta’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1910 Belgrad Opera

1911 Zagreb Opera

RECORDING FOR SALE

Edison Bell

Gaćice djevice orleanske (Kuplet) Z. 1226

Marko Vuscovic (Vucovic) (Baritone) (Supetar, Brac, Croatia 1877 - Zagreb, Croatia 1960)

                                                                Escamillo

                                                                Rigoletto

                                                                 Scarpia

He studied singing at the conservatoire in Split and made his debut in 1904 as Mephisto in ‘’Faust’’, as a member of the Czech opera troupe, which appeared in Split. Then he went to Vienna and perfected his vocal technique under J. Gänsbacher and in Berlin with Lilli Lehmann. In the 1905-1906 season he appeared at the Stadttheater of Troppau (Opava). In the 1906-1908 season he sang at the Stadttheater in Wurzburg. In  the 1909-1913 seasons he was active at the Croatian National Theatre of Zagreb (Agram). In the 1914-1921 seasons he was a member of the Volksoper in Vienna. In the 1921-1925 seasons he agan appeared at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. Later he worked there as director and vocal pedagogue. So significant singers like tenor Tino Pattiera and soprano Daniza Ilitsch belonged to his pupils. In 1907 he guested at the Stadttheater of Bern (Switzerland), then sang also in Berlin, Prague and Zurich. In 1921 he undertook a South America tour. His extensive repertoire included Don Giovanni, Nelusco in ‘’L'Africaine’’, Nilakantha in ‘’Lakmé’’, Telramund in ‘’Lohengrin’’, Wotan, Boris Godunov, Amonasro in ‘’Aida’’ and Scarpia in ‘’Tosca’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1904 Split Opera
1905-1906 Troppau Stadttheater
1906-1908 Wurzburg Stadttheater
1907 Bern Stadttheater
1909-1913 Zagreb Croatian National Theatre
1914-1921 Vienna Volksoper
1921 South America tour
1921-1925 Zagreb Croatian National Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Edison Bell
Romanza (Zrinski) z. 1084

Gramophone
Oganj (Bersa):Aria 212017

Music File Hosting - Podcast Hosting -

Ugo Donarelli (Baritone) (Italy 1890 ? - ?)

Probably he made his debut in Italy. He had an important career in Italian provincial theatres. In 1920 he made a guest appearance in Monte Carlo as Manfredo in L'Amore dei Tre Re with Lucrezia Bori, Benjamino  Gigli and Vanni-Marcoux and also as Marcello and Silvio.  He sang at Teatro Colón in Manon and Madame Butterfly with Juanita Carracciolo and Ferdinando Ciniselli.  In 1920 he appeared in Rio de Janeiro and in 1924 sang with an Italian opera group in London.

Chronology of some appearances

1920 Opéra de Monte-Carlo

1920 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón

1920 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal

1924 London Concert ?

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Edison Bell

Faust (Berlioz)  Serenata 1112

Otello (Verdi): Credo 1111

Faust (Berlioz) Aria delle rosa 1112 9414

Stanisław Orzelski (Stanislaus Orzelski) (Tenor) (Wloclawek, Poland 1873 - Cestochowa, Poland 1950)

http://archiv.narodni-divadlo.cz/

His real name was Jan Donajski. He studied singing in his hometown under J. Szczepkowski and made his debut in the 1894-1895 season, as a member of the J. Myszkowski’s Touring Theater. In  the 1896-1900 seasons he was engaged by the Lwów Opera. In 1901 he performed in Ljubljana and Zagreb, then joined to Opera House in Prague. Since 1907 he was a soloist of the Court Opera of Budapest, where he remained till 1910. He made successful guest appearances in Belgrade (1903), Warsaw (1911), Prague (1913), Hamburg and Milan. His career ended during the First World War. His repertire included Faust, Lohengrin, Jontek in ‘’Halka’’, Lenski in ‘’Eugene Onegin’’, Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’, Grabiec in ‘’Goplana’’ and many other parts.

Chronology of some appearances

1896-1900 Lwów Opera
1903 Belgrade Opera
1907 Budapest Court Opera
1911 Warsaw Opera
1913 Prague National Theater

RECORDING FOR SALE

G&T, Zagreb 1905?
Baron Trenk (Albini): Nastup Trenka 6-12415

René Fournets (Bass) (Pau, France 1858 † Paris, France 1926)

He studied singing at the Conservatoire National de Paris under Boulanger and Obin. In 1884 he made his debut at the Opéra-Comique in Paris as Frère Laurent in ‘’Roméo et Juliette’’. On 7. 5. 1888 he appeared at the Opéra-Comique in the premiere of the opera ‘’Le Roi d'Ys’’of E. Lalo. During the following eight years he sang at this opera house with success. In 1892 he made his debut at the Grand Opéra in Paris as Mephisto in ‘’Faust’’. Here his repertoire included Wotan in ‘’Walküre’’, Leporello in ‘’Don Giovanni’’, Landgrafen in ‘’Tannhäuser’’, Abimelech in ‘’Samson et Dalila’’ and many other parts. He appeared in different opera premieres:

1893 Paris Grand Opéra ‘’Hellé’’ (Alphonse Duvernoy)

1899 Paris Grand Opéra ‘’Briseïs’’ (Émanuel Chabrier)

1900 Paris Grand Opéra ‘’Lancelot’’ (F. L. R. Joncières)
Till 1899 he remained a member of the Grand Opéra. In 1903 he had a huge success at the Théâtre Gaîté-Lyrique in Paris as Phanuël in ‘’Hérodiade’’. In 1903 at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo he performed in the premiere of the opera ‘’Le Tasse’’ of Eugène d'Harcourt. In 1894 he founded in Paris a home for impecunious, young artists.

Chronology of some appearances

1884-1892 Paris Opéra-Comique

1892-1899 Paris Grand Opéra

1903 Opéra de Monte-Carlo

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé cylinders, Paris 1898 – 1900 (or 1902?)
Faust (Gounod): Trio final with Léonie Tanésy and Maurice Vallade 0759

G&T, Paris 1902
Faust (Gounod): Scène de l'église 32466 340F

Pathé cylinders, Paris 1902/1903
Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Voice des roses 3555
Faust (Gounod): Le ciel a visité la terre 3661
Africaine (Meyerbeer): Filles des rois 3588
Noël (Adam) 3649

Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1905?
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Bénédiction des poignards 17203
Sigurd (Reyer): Invocation de Freïa 17204

Homophone, Paris 1906-07-07
Pauvres fous (Tagliafico) 8390
Faust (Gounod): Trio final with Albertine Lauger-Dubois and Gaston Dubois 8392

Drago Hrzic (Carlo Drago Hrzic) (Baritone) (Zagreb, Croatia 1896 – Zagreb, Croatia 1978)

                                                                 Rigoletto

                                                                  Scarpia

First he studied singing under M. Vuskovic in Zagreb, then became a pupil of Franz Steiner in Vienna. In 1919 he made his debut at the National Theater of Zagreb as Dako in the Croatian opera ‘’Povratak’’ by Josip Hatze. Till 1945 he remained a respectable member of this opera house. Here his repertoire included the title parts in ‘’Falstaff’’, ‘’Simon Boccanegra’’, ‘’Rigoletto’’ and ‘’Il Trovatore’’, also Michele in ‘’Il Tabarro’’, Eletsky in ‘’The Queen of Spades’’ and Escamillo in ‘’Carmen’’. In 1925 he made guest appearances in Vienna (State Opera) and Berlin.

Chronology of some appearances

1919-1945 Zagreb National Theater

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Polydor
Vorrei morire (Tosti) 21632 B4272
Ninon (Tosti) 21632 B4272

Grammophon 
Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Monologo 95105 J22174
Die tote Stadt (Korngold): Mein Sehnen, meinen Wähnen 95105 B22383
Amleto (Thomas): O vin discaccia la tristezza 95106 B22385
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Prologo 95106 B22384

Edison Bell
Tannhäuser (Wagner): O tu bell'astro incantator VZ1188 1853