Willy Clément

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Willy Clément (born in Cairo on 19 July 1918, died in Paris on 7 March 1965) was a French baritone who was noted in light baritone roles and operetta.[1]

Life and career

Clément came to France at a young age, and entered the Conservatoire de Paris in November 1938, in the classes of Claire Croiza (singing), Georges Viseur (theory), and Vanni Marcoux (stage declamation). Due to the war, he completed his studies in Lyon, and graduated in July 1941, joining the Théâtre des Quatre Saisons Provinciales and singing at the Lyon Opera in the 1942–43 and 1943-44 seasons. He made his debut as Martin in Le Chemineau by Xavier Leroux.[1]

In 1944 he made what was the first of many radio broadcasts, as Pippo in

Monsieur Beaucaire and Henri de Valois (Le roi malgré lui
).

Clément sang in the French premieres of

Le Docteur Miracle, alongside Nadine Renaux, Marjorie Westbury and Alexander Young, conducted by Stanford Robinson.[3] He sang in the premiere of Marcel Landowski's L'Opéra de Poussière, the first 'world premiere' in the history of the Avignon Opera in 1962,[4]

He appeared at many French provincial theatres and those in francophone countries, including the Grand Théâtre in Geneva (de Langeac in

Edinburgh Festival in 1951 alongside Fanély Revoil
.

He left many recordings of opéras-comiques and operettas, including Ciboulette, Véronique, Au soleil du Mexique, Le petit duc and La Vie parisienne.

References

  1. ^ a b c Caubert A. Portrait - notes for INA memoire vive CD 064, Paris, 2006.
  2. ^ Wolff S. Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique 1900-1950. André Bonne, Paris, 1953.
  3. ^ Porter, Andrew. B.B.C. Third Programme, January 18. Opera, March 1953, p184.
  4. ^ France – report from Avignon. Opera, December 1962, p815.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willy_Clément&oldid=1055794359"