Paul Lhérie

Paul Lhérie (b. Paris October 8 1844, d. Paris October 17 1937) a French tenor (later baritone), most famous for playing the original Don José in "Carmen". His débute was at the Opéra-Comique in 1866 as Méhul's Joseph. He created the role of Charles II in Massenet's "Don César de Bazan" in 1872, Benoît in Delibes's "Le Roi l'a dit" in 1873, and Don José in Bizet's "Carmen" in 1875. In 1882 he went baritone, beginning by singing Posa (Don Carlos) at La Scala. He also spent time at Covent Garden, singing Zurga (Les Pêcheurs de Perles), Rigoletto, Germont (La Traviata), Luna, and Alphonse (La favorite). In 1891 Lhérie originated the baritone role of rabbi David in L'amico Fritz, of particular interest since he himself was Jewish. He retired from the stage in 1894.

References

*Elizabeth Forbes, Lhérie, Paul, The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, 1992, London, ed. Sadie, Stanley.