DINH GILLY (ALGERIA, 19 JULY, 1877 – LONDON, 19 MAY, 1940)
Dinh Gilly was born in Algeria, the son of a French officer, but his passion for singing led him to pursue a different path. Fleeing to France to avoid a military career, he began studying singing at the Toulouse Conservatory, then continued his vocal training with Antonio Cotogni in Rome, and finally at the Paris Conservatoire. After winning the prestigious Grand Prix du Chant at the Conservatoire, he was immediately hired by the director of the Grand Opéra in Paris. His debut came in 1899, where he performed as a priest in Sigurd by Reyer.
Over the following years, Gilly sang at the two major Paris opera houses, with notable appearances including the 1902 premiere of Bajazzo and Götterdämmerung in 1908. His international career included guest performances in South America, particularly at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, as well as appearances in Spain, Germany, and at the Monte Carlo Opera. In 1909, he took part in the world premiere of G. Ferrari’s Le Cobzar at Monte Carlo.
In 1908, when Pierre Gailhard resigned as director of the Grand Opéra, Gilly also left the company and moved to North America. From 1909 to 1914, he became a member of the New York Metropolitan Opera, making his debut as Silvio in Bajazzo and Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana on the same evening. He also took part in the world premiere of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West in 1910, singing the role of Sonora, and in 1914, he participated in the premiere of Charpentier’s Julien.
Through the influence of singer Louise Kirkby-Lunn, Gilly debuted at Covent Garden in London in 1911, performing Amonasro in Aida. He continued his association with Covent Garden until 1914, then returned after World War I, singing from 1919 to 1924. During this time, he performed in the premieres of Massenet’s Thaïs and Puccini’s Il Tabarro, as well as other significant roles.
Gilly’s career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. While visiting his friend, soprano Emmy Destinn, in Bohemia, he was arrested as an enemy alien and interned in an Austrian camp until the end of the war.
After the war, he resumed his career, performing at the Monte Carlo Opera in notable productions, including Thaïs by Massenet and the world premieres of Béatrice by A. Messager and Satan by Raoul Gunsbourg. His final stage appearance was in 1924, at Covent Garden, as Germont in La Traviata. He also gave a radio concert in 1925 before retiring from performing and focusing on teaching in London.
Gilly was married twice, first to the singing teacher Cécile Gilly, with whom he had a daughter, Renée Gilly, a successful mezzo-soprano at the Paris Opéra and Covent Garden. His second marriage was to the English contralto Edyth Furmedge. His students included notable singers like Dora Labette (Elisa Perli), John Brownlee, and Dennis Noble. Another relative, possibly his brother, tenor Albert Gilly, also had a significant opera career, performing in Paris, Monte Carlo, and at Covent Garden.
Chronology of some appearances
Il conte di Luna 12/16/1909, Alfio 12/30/1909, Valentin 2/1/1910, Merlier (Filadelfia) 2/24/1910, Sonora 12/20/1910, Marcello 1/9/1912, Tonio 1/30/1912, Barnaba (Filadelfia) 1/7/1913, Lescaut 1/28/1913, Le comte de Nevers 3/25/1913, Amonasro (Filadelfia) 11/25/1913 (Filadelfia).
TRACKLIST
- Louise (Charpentier) Reste, repose-toi (Berceuse) X97314 XP4622 Odeon, Paris 1909
- Louise (Charpentier) Voir naître une enfant X97303 XP4637 Odeon, Paris 1909
- Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Dovunque al mondo… Amore o grillo (w. Hislop & Parnis) DB743 2-054140, 2-054141, Cc4006, Cc4007 HMV, London 1923-12-2
- Maria Mari (Di Capua) 97280 Odéon Paris 1908-1909
- Mireille (Gounod) Si les filles d’Arles sont reines X97301 Odeon, Paris 1909
- O del mio amato ben (Donaudy) DB1256 2-052400 HMV, London 1929-01-16
- Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck) Aria 8832 Homophone, Paris 1906-03-26
- Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Arioso 17353 Edison 2-min cylinders, Paris 1905
- Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Prologue, pt 1, pt 2 DB849, Cc5995, DB849, Cc5996 HMV, London 1925-04-06 (ac)
- Plaisir d’amour 97302 Odeon, Paris 1908
- Reine de Saba (Gounod) Mab, la reine des mensonges X97308 Odeon, Paris 1909
- Rigoletto (Verdi) Paix! Voici le bouffon (w. Landouzy, Narçon & chorus) X56199 Odeon, Paris 1908
- Rigoletto (Verdi) Tous deux égaux! (Monologo) X97143 XP4464 Odeon, Paris 1908
- Roi de Lahore (Massenet) Promesse de mon avenir X97159 XP4463 Odeon, Paris 1908
- Sigurd (Reyer) Et toi, Freïa (Invocation) unpubl (test exists) XP4621 Odeon, Paris 1908
- Uz mou milou (The wedding) (trad) (w. Destinn) 7-54007 87554 HMV 1914-04-23
- Werther (Massenet) Quelle prière de reconnaisance X97304 XP4639 Odeon, Paris 1909
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