Miguel Villabella (Tenor) (1892, 20/12, Bilbao – 1954, 28/6, Paris.)

Nadir

Originally he should become a businessman and received his education in Paris. He also distinguished himself as a sportsman, among other things he put up a world record in the roller skate running. His voice was discovered by the famous baritone Lucien Fugère. In 1917 he sang for the first time publicly in a concert in San Sebastian. Then he appeared in the First World War before French soldiers. After additional education under Jacques Isnardon in Paris, he made his debut in 1918 at the Grand Théâtre de Poitiers as Cavaradossi in ‘’Tosca’’. In 1920 he was engaged the Opéra-Comique in Paris and made his debut as Spoletta in ‘’Tosca’’. Since 1928, at the same time, he was a member of the Grand Opéra in Paris, where he made his debut as Pinkerton in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’. He retired from the stage in 1940 and then worked in Paris as pedagogue.

Chronology of some appearances

1917 Spain San Sebastian Concert

1918 Paris Grand Théâtre de Poitiers Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1920 Paris Opéra-Comique Tosca (Spoletta)

1928 Paris Grand Opéra Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1929 Paris Grand Opéra Persée et Andromède (Persée) (Premiere)

1930 Opéra de Monte-Carlo (-)

1931 Paris Grand Opéra Virginie (-) (Premiere)

1934 Paris Grand Opéra Don Giovanni (Don Ottavio)

1936 Opéra de Monte-Carlo (-)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé, Paris 1925/1926
Mignon (Thomas): Elle ne croyait pas 0489
Lakmé (Delibes): Ah, viens dans la forêt 0489
Mireille (Gounod): Anges du paradis 0490
Faust (Gounod): Salut, demeure 0490
Rigoletto (Verdi): Comme la plume au vent 0499 200073
Lakmé (Delibes): Fantaisie 0498
Bohème (Puccini): Que votre main est glacée 0515
Manon (Massenet): Le rêve 0519 200338
Manon (Massenet): Ah! Fuyez, douce image 0519 200339
Dragons de Villars (Maillart): Ne parle pas, Rose 0499 200020
Werther (Massenet): Invocation 0516
Fortunio (Messager): La maison grise 0516

Pathé, Paris 1927?
Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): O dieu de quelle ivresse 0611 200615
Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): Ah, vivre deux 0610 200616
Grisélidis (Massenet): Voir Grisélidis 0610 200539
Panurge (Massenet): Chanson de la Touraine 0611 200614
Jongleur de Notre-Dame (Massenet): O liberté 0623 200708
Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Aubade 0623 200710
Suzanne (Paladilhe): Comme un petit oiseau 0624 200711
Sapho (Massenet): Qu'il est loin mon pays 0624 200709
Ay, ay, ay! (Freire) 3320
Canción andaluza (Bucker) 3320

Pathé, Paris 1927 - 1931
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): D'un métal, pt 1 with Baugé 7159
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): D'un métal, pt 2 with Baugé
Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): C'est toi, pt 1 with Lantéri 7160 201340

Pathé, Paris 1928/1929
Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Ah, quel plaisir 0672
Sérénade (Gounod) 3355
Fortunio (Messager): Si vous croyez 0673
Sérénade française (Leoncavallo) 3355
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Des rayons de l'aurore 7127
Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Viens, gentille dame, pt 1 0697
Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Pt 2 0697
Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Ce domaine with Izarié 2612 201790-A1
Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Fuyons! with Izarié 2612 201869-A1

Odeon, Paris 1929-04-17
Rigoletto (Verdi): Quatuor with Tessandra, Norena & Rouard 123.010 xxP6875
Rigoletto (Verdi): Duo, Act 2 with Norena 123.010 xxP6876

Pathé, Paris 1932?
Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Vainement, ma bien-aimée 90051 N250259 

Pathé, Paris 1932-06/07
Bohème (Puccini): Quatuor with Sibille, Villabella & Baugé X90056 250274-MC2

Pathé, Paris 1934
Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu): Attendez, attendez PG26 CPT 1079
Amadis (Lulli): Bois epais, redouble ton ombre PGT20 CPTX 177

Pathé, Paris 1935
Si j'étais roi (Adam): Vous m'aimez, dites-vous with Feraldy PD12 CPT 1960
Si j'étais roi (Adam): Pt II with Feraldy PD12 CPT 1961