Léon Rothier

Léon Rothier (December 26, 1874 – December 6, 1951) was a French musician, predominantly an opera singer in the bass range, [cite news
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title = Léon Rothier's recital; Fine Qualities of Metropolitan Basso's Singing in Aeolian Hall.
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publisher = New York Times
date = 1917-11-4
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=980CE1DC163AE532A25757C0A9679D946696D6CF
accessdate = 2008-04-14] of the early 20th century.

Rothier was born in 1874 in Reims, in the Champagne-Ardenne "région" of northern France. In this city he began his career as a violinist, but afterwards traveled to the Conservatoire de Paris to study voice. In 1899, he made his singing debut at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, in Charles Gounod's "Philémon et Baucis". In 1900, he participated in the premiere of Gustave Charpentier's "Louise". In 1907, Rothier left the Opéra-Comique, and after some short stints in a few French theatres, moved to the United States, beginning a thirty-year association with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He created the role of Grandfather Tyl in "L'oiseau bleu" by Albert Wolff (1919). He was still giving public performances as late as 1949, at the Town Hall.

Rothier made several sound recordings during his lifetime, including two scenes from "Un ballo in maschera" with Enrico Caruso. He also appeared in at least one motion picture.

He died in New York city on December 6, 1951. [http://www.naxos.com/artistinfo/Leon_Rothier/2060.htm Léon Rothier] biography at Naxos Records website]

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=111637 Léon Rothier] at the Internet Broadway Database
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0745195/ Léon Rothier ] at the Internet Movie Database

References