René Maison
24 November 1895 Frameries – 11 July 1962 Mont-Dore
as Julien
In RA format
In RA format
In RA format
In RA format
Maison studied at the Charleroi conservatory and at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels. He made his debut in Geneva in 1920 as Rodolfo. Via
Gent, Rennes, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nice, he came to Monte Carlo (1925) and the Paris Op&eacut;ra-Comique (1927). At the Opéra, he
sang regularly from 1929 to 1940. He was also a member of the Chicago Civic Opera from 1928 to 1940 and of the New York Met from 1936 to 1943.
As a guest, he sang at La Monnaie in Brussels, at Covent Garden in London, at the Colón in Buenos Aires or in San Francisco. It was in
Chicago that he began to focus on Wagner roles. He was very tall, endowed with a good stage presence, and an excellent actor.
He retired in 1943 and became a voice teacher, first in Mexico City, then at the Juillard School in New York, and finally at the Chalof School
in Boston; it was he who retrained baritone Ramón Vinay as a tenor.
Reference 1: Kutsch & Riemens; reference 2
Repertory
La bohème – Genève, G.T., 1920
Sang in 1920 in Gent, nothing is known.
Lakmé – Rennes, Municipal, 1923
Thaîs – Rennes, Municipal, 1923
Manon – Rennes, Municipal, 1923
Tosca – Rennes, Municipal, 1923
Faust – Rennes, Municipal, 1923
Madame Butterfly – Rennes, Municipal, 1923
Sang in 1923/24 in Gent, Perpignan and Béziers, and in 1925/26 in Bordeaux.
Christiane – Toulouse, Capitole, 1925/26
La damnation de Faust – Toulouse, Capitole, 1925/26
Werther – Toulouse, Capitole, 1925/26
La mouette d'Armor (by Gustave Graeffe) – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 12 March 1925 (world premiere)
Fah-Yen-Fah (by Joseph Redding) – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 26 February 1926 (world premiere)
Les contes d'Hoffmann – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 7 March 1926
Hérodiade – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 5 February 1927
Ivan le terrible (by Raoul Gunsbourg) – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 3 March 1927
Oberon – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 26 March 1927
Boris Godunov – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 3 April 1927
Louise – Vichy, Casino, 1926
Risurrezione – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 16 May 1927
Carmen – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927?
Sapho – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927?
Pagliacci – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927?
Le roi d'Ys – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927?
L'amore dei tre re – Chicago, 1928/29
Monna Vanna – Paris, Opéra, 3 June 1929
Roméo et Juliette – Paris, Opéra, 1929
Lohengrin – Vichy, Casino, 1929
Der Rosenkavalier – Chicago, 1929/30
Fidelio – Chicago, 1929/30
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg – Chicago, 1930/31
Parsifal – Chicago, 1930/31
Samson et Dalila – Chicago, 1931/32
Perséphone (by Stravinsky) – Paris, Opéra, 1934 (world premiere)
Aida – Paris, Opéra, 1935
Das Rheingold – New York, Met, 6 February 1936
Iphigénie en Aulide – Buenos Aires, 1936/40
Die Fledermaus – Buenos Aires, 1936/40
Der fliegende Holländer – New York, Met, 18 March 1937
Salome – New York, Met, 4 February 1938
Die Walküre – Paris, Opéra, 1938/39
Alceste – New York, Met, 24 January 1941
Tannhäuser – New York, Met, 7 January 1943
Discography
78 rpm
Odeon, Paris, May 1927
Ki1228-1 Risurrezione (Alfano): Katiuska, ce jour exquis unpublished
Ki1228-2 Risurrezione (Alfano): Katiuska, ce jour exquis 188.532, Decca G-20642
Ki1230-1 Risurrezione (Alfano): Pleure, oui pleure unpublished
Ki1230-2 Risurrezione (Alfano): Pleure, oui pleure 188.532, Decca G-20642
Odeon, Paris, between May & October 1927
xxP6505-1 Lohengrin (Wagner): Mon cygne aimé unpublished
xxP6502-2 Lohengrin (Wagner): Mon cygne aimé 123.501
xxP6506-1 Lohengrin (Wagner): Aux bords lointains unpublished
xxP6506-2 Lohengrin (Wagner): Aux bords lointains 123.502
xxP6507-1 Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Merci doux crépuscule unpublished
xxP6507-2 Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Merci doux crépuscule 123.501
Odeon, Paris, 31 October 1927
Ki1344-1 Rigoletto (Verdi): Comme la plûme au vent unpublished
Ki1344-2 Rigoletto (Verdi): Comme la plûme au vent 188.539
Ki1363-1 Louise (Charpentier): Mais un soir, dans l'escalier unpublished
Ki1363-2 Louise (Charpentier): Mais un soir, dans l'escalier 188.539
xxP6523-1 Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Nature immense 123.502
xxP6525-1 Faust (Gounod): Alerte! Alerte! (w. Vallin & Lafont) 123.509, Decca D-25864
xxP6525-2 Faust (Gounod): Alerte! Alerte! (w. Vallin & Lafont) unpublished
xxP6526-1 Faust (Gounod): Que voulez-vous (w. Bourdin & Lafont) unpublished
xxP6526-2 Faust (Gounod): Que voulez-vous (w. Bourdin & Lafont) 123.509
Odeon, Paris, 2 November 1927
xxP6528-1 Faust (Gounod): À moi les plaisirs, pt. 1 (w. Lafont) unpublished
xxP6528-2 Faust (Gounod): À moi les plaisirs, pt. 1 (w. Lafont) 123.510, Decca D-25858
xxP6529-1 Faust (Gounod): À moi les plaisirs, pt. 2 (w. Lafont) 123.510, Decca D-25858
xxP6529-2 Faust (Gounod): À moi les plaisirs, pt. 2 (w. Lafont) unpublished
Odeon, Paris, November/December 1927
Ki1406-1 Le crucifix (Faure) (w. Lafont) unpublished
Ki1406-2 Le crucifix (Faure) (w. Lafont) 188.546
Ki1407-1 Agnus Dei (Bizet) 188.546
Ki1409-1 Lohengrin (Wagner): Ah, respirons tous deux 188.547
Ki1410-1 Lohengrin (Wagner): Ma confiance en toi 188.547
Odeon, Paris, July 1928
Ki1791-1 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Salut tombeau, pt. 1 188.600
Ki1791-2 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Salut tombeau, pt. 1 unpublished
Ki1792-1 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Salut tombeau, pt. 2 188.600
Ki1792-2 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Salut tombeau, pt. 2 unpublished
Ki1793-1 Sigurd (Reyer): Prince du Rhin 188.602
Ki1793-2 Sigurd (Reyer): Prince du Rhin unpublished
Ki1794-1 Sigurd (Reyer): Un souvenir poignant 188.602
Ki1794-2 Sigurd (Reyer): Un souvenir poignant unpublished
xxP6698-1 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah, lève-toi, soleil 123.563
xxP6698-2 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah, lève-toi, soleil unpublished
xxP6699-1 Die Walküre (Wagner): Plus d'hiver 123.563
xxP6699-2 Die Walküre (Wagner): Plus d'hiver unpublished
xxP6700-1 Favorite (Donizetti): Ange si pur 123.564
xxP6700-2 Favorite (Donizetti): Ange si pur unpublished
xxP6701-1 Favorite (Donizetti): Un ange, une femme inconnue 123.564
HMV, Paris, 14 May 1934
0PG1577 I Werther (Massenet): Pourquoi me réveiller unpublished
0PG1578 I Werther (Massenet): J'aurais sur ma poitrine unpublished
2PG1579 I Hérodiade (Massenet): Ne pouvant reprimer DB4938
2PG1580 I Carmen (Bizet): La fleur que tu m'avais jetée DB4938
HMV, Paris, 8 June 1934
0PG1651 Tannhäuser (Wagner): O vierge sainte, pt 1 (w. Sibille) unpublished
0PG1652 Tannhäuser (Wagner): O vierge sainte, pt 2 (w. Sibille) unpublished
Columbia, New York, 6 January 1942
XCo32444 Fidelio (Beethoven): Gott! welch Dunkel hier, pt 1 71410-D
XCo32445 Fidelio (Beethoven): Gott! welch Dunkel hier, pt 2 71410-D
Radio recordings (all live)
VIENNA, STAATSOPER
17 October 1933
Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns): Duo act 2, in French
Dalila - Rosette Anday, Samson - René Maison
Conductor - Hugo Reichenberger, orchestra - Wiener Staatsoper
Compact Disc: Koch-Schwann Wiener Staatsoper 4
BUENOS AIRES, TEATRO COLÓN
17 September 1936
Lohengrin (Wagner), complete broadcast
Lohengrin - René Maison, Elsa - Germaine Hoerner, Ortrud - Marjorie Lawrence,
Friedrich von Telramund - Fred Destal, König Heinrich - Alexander Kipnis, Heerrufer -
Fritz Krenn
Conductor - Fritz Busch, orchestra - Teatro Colón, chorus - Teatro Colón
LP: Melodram MEL 310
Compact Disc: Archipel ARPCD 0182/3; Premiere Opera Ltd. CDNO 1621-3
19 September 1936
Der fliegende Holländer (Wagner), complete broadcast
Holländer - Fred Destal, Senta - Marjorie Lawrence, Daland - Alexander Kipnis,
Erik - René Maison, Mary - Irra Petina, Steuermann - Hanns Fleischer
Conductor - Fritz Busch, orchestra - Teatro Colón, chorus - Teatro Colón
Compact Disc: Pearl CDs 9910
22 September 1936
Parsifal (Wagner), complete broadcast
Amfortas - Martial Singher, Titurel - Fred Destal, Gurnemanz - Alexander Kipnis,
Parsifal - René Maison, Klingsor - Fritz Krenn, Kundry - Marjorie Lawrence,
Knappen - Lucy Ritter, Irra Pettina, Hanns Fleischer, Luis Santoro, Blumenmädchen -
Editha Fleischer, Lucy Ritter, María Malberti, Irra Pettina, Emma Brizzio,
Yolonda di Sábat, Ritter - Hanns Fleischer, Jorge Andronoff
Conductor - Fritz Busch, orchestra - Teatro Colón, chorus - Teatro Colón
Compact Disc: Marston 53003
23 August 1940
Die Walküre (Wagner), complete broadcast with intermissions
Brünnhilde - Marjorie Lawrence, Sieglinde - Irene Jessner, Fricka - Risë
Stevens, Siegmund - René Maison, Hunding - Emanuel List, Wotan - Herbert Janssen
Conductor - Erich Kleiber, orchestra - Teatro Colón
Durations: 1:17:46 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission features); 3:01:09 (opera)
CD: Gebhardt JCGD0028
2 July 1941
Symphony nº9 (Beethoven), complete broadcast
Judith Hellwig, Lydia Kindermann, René Maison, Alexander Kipnis
Conductor - Arturo Toscanini
LP: Arturo Toscanini Society ATS118/9
CD: Guild Historical GHCD2344; Music & Arts 1119
MONTEVIDEO, TEATRO SOLÍS
29 September 1936
Die Walküre (Wagner), excerpts exist
Siegmund - René Maison, Sieglinde - Germaine Hoerner, Hunding - Alexander Kipnis,
Brünhilde - Marjorie Lawrence, Wotan - Fred Destal, Fricka/Waltraute - Paula Weber,
Walkyries - Lucy Ritter, Leonor Boerner, Julia Spott, Maria Malberti, Irra Petini,
Emma Brizi, Sara Cesal
Conductor - Fritz Busch, orchestra - Servicio Oficial de Difusión Radio y
Espectáculos, chorus - Servicio Oficial de Difusión Radio y Espectáculos
LP: UORC 139
CHICAGO, CIVIC OPERA
21 November 1938
Lohengrin (Wagner), act 1 only broadcast
Elsa - Kirsten Flagstad, Lohengrin - René Maison, König Heinrich - Emanuel List
Conductor - Edwin MacArthur
in Flagstad Archive at Stanford University
NEW YORK, METROPOLITAN OPERA
22 February 1936
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner), complete broadcast
Hans Sachs - Friedrich Schorr, Veit Pogner - Emanuel List, Sixtus Beckmesser - Eduard
Habich, Fritz Kothner - Julius Huehn, Walther von Stolzing - René Maison, David -
Hans Clemens, Eva - Elisabeth Rethberg, Magdalena - Karin Branzell, Nachtwächter -
Arnold Gabor, Kunz Vogelgesang - Marek Windheim, Konrad Nachtigall - Louis D' Angelo,
Ulrich Eisslinger - Giordano Paltrinieri, Balthasar Zorn - Angelo Bada, Augustin Moser -
Max Altglass, Hermann Ortel - Arnold Gabor, Hans Schwarz - Dudley Marwick, Hans Foltz -
James Wolf
Conductor - Artur Bodanzky, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera EJS 492
Compact Disc: Music and Arts 652; Guild Immortal Performances GHCD 2244/45/46/47
7 March 1936
Fidelio (Beethoven), complete broadcast
Leonore - Kirsten Flagstad, Florestan - René Maison, Pizarro - Ludwig Hofmann, Rocco -
Emanuel List, Marzelline - Editha Fleischer, Jacquino - Hans Clemens, Fernando - Julius
Huehn, Erster Gefangener - Max Altglass, Zweiter Gefangener - Arnold Gabor
Conductor - Artur Bodanzky, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
28 March 1936
Carmen (Bizet), complete broadcast
Carmen - Rosa Ponselle, Don José - René Maison, Micaëla - Hilda Burke, Escamillo - Ezio
Pinza, Frasquita - Thelma Votipka, Mercédès - Helen Olheim, Le Dancaïre - Angelo Bada,
Le Remendado - Marek Windheim, Moralès - George Cehanovsky, Zuniga - Louis D' Angelo
Conductor - Louis Hasselmans, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 116; Historical Recording Enterprises HRE 253-3
Compact Disc: Eklipse EKR-CD 6; Arkadia CDHP 452.3
26 December 1936
Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns), complete broadcast with intermissions
Samson - René Maison, Dalila - Gertrud Wettergren, Le Grand Prêtre de Dagon - Ezio Pinza,
Abimélech - John Gurney, Le vieillard Hébreu - Emanuel List, Le messager philistin - Angelo
Bada, Premier philistin - Max Altglass, Deuxième philistin - Wilfred Engelman
Conductor - Maurice Abravanel, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Duration: 2:07:11 (opera); 0:45:09 (intermission features and synopsis)
LP (excerpts): EJS 516
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 26; Guild Immortal Performances GHCD 2273/74; Bensar OL 122636
23 January 1937
Les contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach), complete broadcast with intermissions
Hoffmann - René Maison, Olympia - Vina Bovy, Giulietta - Vina Bovy, Antonia -
Vina Bovy, Coppélius - Lawrence Tibbett, Dapertutto - Lawrence Tibbett, Miracle -
Lawrence Tibbett, Nicklaus - Irra Petina, Spalanzani - Louis D'Angelo, Frantz - Angelo Bada,
Schlemihl - Norman Cordon, Crespel - Louis D'Angelo, Andres - Angelo Bada, Cochenille - Angelo
Bada, Pitichinaccio - Angelo Bada, La mère d'Antonia - Anna Kaskas, Lindorf - Lawrence
Tibbett, Stella - Vina Bovy
Conductor - Maurice Abravanel, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Durations: 50:51 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission feature); 2:21:23 (opera).
LP: Unique Opera Records Corporation UORC 206
Compact Disc: Naxos "Historical" 8.110011-2; Arkadia "The Golden Age" GA 2033; Guild "Immortal
Performances" GHCD 2315/16; Bensar OL 12337
27 March 1937
Lohengrin (Wagner), complete broadcast with intermissions in NYPL & LOC
Lohengrin - René Maison, Elsa - Kirsten Flagstad, Ortrud - Karin Branzell, Friedrich von
Telramund - Julius Huehn, König Heinrich - Ludwig Hofmann, Heerrufer - Arnold Gabor
Conductor - Maurice Abravanel, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
LP: Unique Opera Records UORC 308; EJS 557 (excerpts)
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 6; Helikon 3526; Walhall "Eternity Series" WLCD 0011
3 April 1937
Das Rheingold (Wagner), complete broadcast from the Boston Opera House with intermissions
Wotan - Friedrich Schorr, Fricka - Karin Branzell, Loge - René Maison, Mime - Karl
Laufkötter, Alberich - Eduard Habich, Freia - Dorothee Manski, Froh - Hans Clemens,
Donner - Julius Huehn, Erda - Doris Doe, Fasolt - Norman Cordon, Fafner - Emanuel List,
Woglinde - Stella Andreva, Wellgunde - Irra Petina, Floßhilde - Doris Doe
Conductor - Artur Bodanzky, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Durations: 31:27 (introduction, announcements, and intermission features); 2:17:19 (opera)
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 249
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 4; Naxos "Historical" 8.110047-48; Naxos "Historical" 8.501106;
Guild Music GMCD 2221/2
17 April 1937
Carmen (Bizet), complete broadcast with intermissions
Carmen - Rosa Ponselle, Don José - René Maison, Micaëla - Hilda Burke, Escamillo -
Julius Huehn, Frasquita - Thelma Votipka, Mercédès - Helen Olheim, Le Dancaîre -
George Cehanovsky, Le Remendado - Giordano Paltrinieri, Moralès - Wilfred Engelman,
Zuniga - Louis D'Angelo
Conductor - Gennaro Papi, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Durations: 53:13 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission features); 2:44:29 (opera)
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 103/104; Metropolitan Opera Guild MET-7;
Operatic Archives OPA 10016
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 15
19 March 1938
Carmen (Bizet), excerpts from acts 1 and 2
Carmen - Bruna Castagna, Don José - René Maison, Micaëla - Susanne Fisher, Escamillo -
John Brownlee, Frasquita - Thelma Votipka, Mercédès - Helen Olheim, Le Dancaîre -
George Cehanovsky, Le Remendado - Giordano Paltrinieri, Zuniga - Norman Cordon
Conductor - Gennaro Papi, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
LP: UORC 262
31 December 1938
Fidelio (Beethoven), complete broadcast
Leonore - Kirsten Flagstad, Florestan - René Maison, Pizarro - Friedrich Schorr, Rocco -
Emanuel List, Marzelline - Marita Farell, Jaquino - Karl Laufkötter, Fernando - Arnold
Gabor, Erster Gefangener - Nicholas Massue, Zweiter Gefangener - Arnold Gabor
Conductor - Artur Bodanzky, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
LP: Unique Opera Records UORC-268; Melodram MEL 307
Compact Disc: Music & Arts CD-619; Dante LYS 384/385; Bensar OL 123138
28 January 1939
Louise (Charpentier), excerpts exist
Grace Moore, René Maison, Doris Doe, Ezio Pinza/Ettore Panizza
22 February 1941
Fidelio (Beethoven), complete broadcast with intermission features
Leonore - Kirsten Flagstad, Florestan - René Maison, Pizarro - Julius Huehn, Rocco -
Alexander Kipnis, Marzelline - Marita Farell, Jaquino - Karl Laufkötter, Fernando -
Herbert Janssen, Erster Gefangener - Emery Darcy, Zweiter Gefangener - John Gurney
Conductor - Bruno Walter, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Durations: 2:18:22 (opera); 0:38:04 (synopsis and features)
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 126; Bruno Walter Society 712/713;
Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 6; Accord ACC 150030
Compact Disc: Dante LYS 023/024; Phonographe PH 5044/5045; Arkadia HP 628.2; Nuova
Era 2345/2346; Memories HR 4456/4457; Naxos Historical 8110054/5; Arkadia
"The Golden Age" 2CD GA 2022; Guild Immortal Performances GHCD 2269/70; West Hill
Radio Archives WHRA 6008
8 March 1941
Alceste (Gluck), complete broadcast with intermission features
Alceste - Rose Bampton, Admète - René Maison, Grand prêtre d'Apollon - Leonard Warren,
Evandre - Alessio De Paolis, Un héraut - George Cehanovsky, Une femme - Marita Farell
Conductor - Ettore Panizza, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Durations: 1:00:51 (synopsis and intermission features); 2:14:11 (opera)
LP (excerpts): EJS 545
Compact Disc: Naxos Historical 8.110006-7; Cantus Classics 500411
13 December 1941
Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns), broadcast, not complete, first 10 mins of act 1 missing
Samson - René Maison, Dalila - Risë Stevens, High Priest - Leonard Warren, Abimelech - Norman
Cordon, Old Hebrew - Nicola Moscona, First Philistine - John Dudley, Second Philistine -
Arthur Kent, Philistine messenger - Emery Darcy
Conductor - Wilfrid Pelletier, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Duration: 2:06:15
13 February 1943
Boris Godunov (Musorgskij), complete broadcast with intermission features
Boris - Alexander Kipnis, Grigorij - René Maison, Marina - Kerstin Thorborg, Pimen -
Nicola Moscona, Varlaam - Norman Cordon, Shujskij - Alessio De Paolis, Misail - John Dudley,
Rangoni - Leonard Warren, Fjodor - Irra Petina, Ksenija - Marita Farell, Hostess - Doris
Doe, Simpleton - John Garris
Conductor - George Szell, orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Durations: 1:17:46 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission features); 3:01:09 (opera)
LP: EJS 550 (1 excerpt)
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 12; RRD FT1505-6; The Forties FT 1505-6;
Music & Arts CD 867 (excerpts)
RCA radio broadcasts
17 January 1937
Unknown arias
17 October 1937
Unknown arias
22 November 1938
Unknown arias
Bibliography and Webography
Michèle Friche: Les grandes voix du Hainaut à l'époque du 78 tours, Hamburg 1985
Richard T Soper: Belgian opera houses and singers, Spartanburg 1999
Richard T Soper: Livret du CD René Maison, Musique en Wallonie
Catalogues Odeon 78tours
Discography on www.78opera.com (defunct)
The AHRC Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Library of Congress
New York Public Library
I wish to thank Christian Torrent for the discography.
Minor additions to the discography from Gesellschaft für historische Tonträger, Wien.
Many thanks to Anton Bieber for the Fidelio recording and label scans.
I would like to thank Thomas Silverbörg for the recording (Hérodiade).
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