Paul Payan (Bass) (Toulon, France 1. 1. 1878 - Juan-les-Pins, France 1. 11. 1959)

                                                             Mefistofele

He studied singing at the Conservatoire National in Paris under Isnardon. In 1906 he was engaged by Albert Carré for appearances at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Here he made his debut  in the same year as comprimario in G. Charpentier’s ‘’Louise’’. He appeared with great success many years at the Opéra-Comique as principal bass. Payan participated also in several opera premieres: ‘’La Habanéra’’ of Raoul Laparra (26. 2. 1908), ‘’Macbeth’’ of Ernest Bloch (30. 11. 1910), ‘’La Lépreuse’’of  Sylvio Lazzari (7. 2. 1912), ‘’La Danseuse de Pompéi’’ of Jean Nouguès (29. 10. 1912) and  ‘’Marouf’’ of Henri Rabaud (15. 5. 1914). Later he joined to the Paris Grand Opéra and became known in the French province by numerous guest performances.  In  the 1921-1922 season he became a member of the Chicago Opera, where he had a huge success in ‘’Le jongleur de Notre Dame’’, ‘’Manon’’, ‘’Roméo et Juliette’’ and in ‘’Samson et Dalila’’. In 1924 he was engaged by the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. In 1928 he sang at Covent Garden the following parts: Zuniga in ‘’Carmen’’, an old Hebrew in ‘’Samson et Dalila’’ and in ‘’Louise’’. Nevertheless, center of his artistic work remained Paris, where he was active later also as pedagogue. He may not be mistaken with French baritone Paul Payen (1900-1982).

Chronology of some appearances

1906 Paris Opéra-Comique

1921-1922 Chicago Opera

1924 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón

1928 London Covent Garden

RECORDIGNS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Paris 1910-11-25
Bohème (Puccini): O défrôque si chère 4-32095 16152u
Les Saisons (Massé): Chanson du blé 4-32096 16153u

Gramophone, Paris 1910-11-29
Faust (Gounod): Jusqu'aux premiers feux du matin (w. chorus) 032175 01755v

Gramophone, Paris 1910-12-09
Les deux Reines (Mompou): Adieu, mon beau navire (w. chorus) 032177 01775v

Gramophone, Paris 1910-12-14
Caïd (Thomas): Couplets de la Diane 4-32237 16181u

Gramophone, Paris 1910-12-23
Favorite (Donizetti): Frères, creusons l'asile (w. chorus) 4-32099 16194u

Gramophone, Paris 1911-01-10
Faust (Gounod): Le jour va luire with Heilbronner & Beyle 034092 01818v

Gramophone, Paris 1911-01-27
Hérodiade (Massenet): J'ai souvent contemplé ton astre with Brohly 034094 01857v

Gramophone, Paris 1911-04-28
Faust (Gounod): Il était temps 4-32235 16442u

Gramophone, Paris 1911-07-05
Zauberflöte (Mozart): Isis, c'est l'heure (w. chorus) 4-32243 16522u

Gramophone, Pa ris 1911-07-10
Louise (Charpentier): Berceuse, 4 acte 032203 01975v

Gramophone, Paris 1911-11-04
Haydée (Auber): A la voix séduisante 032224 02177v
Caïd (Thomas): Le Tambour-Major 032218 02178v

Gramophone, Paris 1912-09-05
Faust (Gounod): Divine pureté with César & Campagnola 034153 02506v

Odeon, Paris 1913/1915
Fauvette du Temple (Messager): A travers le desert with R. Heilbronner 97774
Cendrillon (Massenet): Viens, nous quitterons cette ville with R. Heilbronner 111585
Juive (Halevy): L'ai-je bien entendu? with C. Vezzani 111879
Louise (Charpentier): Ah! quelle jonrnee with M. Charbonnel 111566  xP 6044
Louise (Charpentier): Le bonheur, vois-tu with M. Charbonnel 111537 xP 6045
Tosca (Puccini):  O de beautés égales with C.Vezzani 111557

Gramophone, Paris 1914-01-07
Le Crucifix (Faure) with Campagnola 034201 02877v

Gramophone, Paris 1914-04-04
Jongleur de Nôtre-Dame (Massenet): Il pleure, un peu de foi 4-32378 18758u

Aérophone, Paris
Le cor (Flégier) 834
Chanson pour Jean 835
Juive (Halévy): Cavatine 836
Robert le diable (Meyerbeer): Invocation des nonnes 837

Pathé, Paris
Le Chalet (Adam): Chanson Bachique 1127
Le Caid (Thomas): Air du Tambour-Major 1126

Star
La Charite (Faure)  15542-B
Entre Nous Deux 15535-B