Théo Beets

7 November 1897 Antwerp – 1982 Braschaat

Théo Beets sings Sigurd: Prince du Rhin
In RA format

Théo Beets sings Die Walküre: Plus d'hiver
In RA format
The recordings of Sigurd and Walküre come from the Théo Beets CD (CDMR711) published by Malibran-Music. Highly recommended, like all Malibran CDs!
Théo Beets sings La Juive: Rachel, quand du Seigneur
In RA format

Théo Beets sings Hérodiade: Ne pouvant réprimer les élans de la foi
In RA format

In 1914, he volunteered for the Belgian army and, beyond fighting WWI, remained a soldier until 1923. Only then, he studied voice at the Brussels conservatory, with Désiré Demest and Laurent Swolfs. He made his debut at age 31, as Jean (in Hérodiade) in Liège. Throughout his career, he was based in Antwerp, where he sang both at the French and the Flemish Opera, but he made extensive guest appearances in France and Belgium, and also in Germany (in 1937/38, he worked under young Herbert von Karajan in Aachen as Siegmund). In his later years, he would also sing baritone parts; his farewell from the stage was as Herodes in Gent (1955), but his final aria concert took only place in 1967.

His repertory included Lohengrin, Siegmund, Tannhäuser, Florestan, Otello, Hüon, Éléazar, José; later Escamillo, Don Pizarro, Telramund.

Reference 1: Malibran CD liner notes; reference 2: Kutsch & Riemens


Repertory minimum

Tosca
Hérodiade
Salome
Lohengrin
La Juive
La favorite
Sigurd
Aida
Lucia di Lammermoor
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Otello (in Aachen with Karajan)
Tannhäuser
Die Walküre
Fidelio
Tosca
Faust
Les pêcheurs de perles

Discography
Polydor
12 inch
516573 La Walkyrie: Ô glaive promis par mon père              2170BMP
       La Walkyrie: Plus d'hiver                              2171BMP
516574 Lucie de Lamermoor: Tombe de mes aieux
       Roméo et Juliette: Cavatine
516619 Les maîtres chanteurs de Nuremberg: L'aube vermeille
       Lohengrin: Aux bords lointains
516653 Sigurd: Un souvenir poignant                           2140BMP
       Les huguenots: Plus blanche que la blanche hermine     2139BMP
516682 La damnation de Faust: Nature immense                  2141BMP
       La damnation de Faust: Merci doux crépuscule           2142½BMP
516722 Aida: Ô céleste Aida                                   1971BMP                     
       Hérodiade: Ne pouvant réprimer                         1970BMP
516734 La Juive: Dieu que ma voix tremblante                  1972BMP 
       La Juive: Rachel quand du Seigneur                     1973BMP
       Lucie de Lammermoor: Bientot l'herbe des champs        unpublished
			 
10 inch
524061 Sigurd: Princes du Rhin                                4198BKP
       Sigurd: Esprits gardiens de ces lieux                  4199BKP

Other issue numbers have been used for some records.
516173 : 566154
516619 : 566099
516682 : 566146
516722 : 566084
516734 : 566085
524061 : 561031
Reference: Richard T. Soper Belgian opera houses and singers. The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1999.
I wish to thank Christian Torrent for the discography.
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