René Maison
1895 Frameries – 1962 Mont Dore
as Julien
Maison studied at the Charleroi Conservatory and at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels.
In RA format
In RA format
In RA format
In RA format
Many thanks to Anton Bieber for the Fidelio recording and label scans.
I would like to thank Thomas Silverbörg for the recording (Hérodiade).
Repertory
La bohème – Genève, G.T., 1920
Sang in 1920 in Gand, 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 1923/4 in Gand, Perpignan, and Béziers, and in 1925/6 in Bordeaux.
Christiane – Toulouse, Capitole, 1925/6
La damnation de Faust – Toulouse, Capitole, 1925/6
Werther – Toulouse, Capitole, 1925/6
La mouette d'Armour – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 12 March 1925
Les contes d'Hoffmann – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 7 March 1926
Fay-Yen-Fah – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 16 March 1926
Hérodiade – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 5 February 1927
Ivan le terrible – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 3 March 1927
Obéron – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 26 March 1927
Boris Godunov – Monte Carlo, Garnier, 3 April 1927
Louise – Vichy, Casino, 1926
Résurrection – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 16 May 1927
Carmen – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927-?
Sapho – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927-?
Paillasse – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927-?
Le roi d'Ys – Paris, Opéra-Comique, 1927-?
L'amore dei tre re – Chicago, 1928/9
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
Les maîtres chanteurs – Chicago, 1930/31
Parsifal – Chicago, 1930/31
Samson et Dalila – Chicago, 1931/32
Perséphone – Paris, Opéra, 1934
Aida – Paris, Opéra, 1935
L'or du Rhin – New York, MET, 6 February 1936
Iphigénie en Aulide – Buenos Aires, 1936/40
La chauve-souris – Buenos Aires, 1936/40
Le vaisseau fantôme – New York, MET, 18 March 1937
Salome – New York, MET, 4 February 1938
La Walkyrie – Paris, Opéra, 1938/9
Alceste – New York, MET, 24 January 1941
Tannhäuser – New York, MET, 7 January 1943
Discography
78
Odeon, Paris 1927-05
- Ki1228-1 Risurrezione: Katiuska, ce jour exquis unpubl
1. Ki1228-2 Risurrezione: Katiuska, ce jour exquis 188.532, Decca G-20642
- Ki1230-1 Risurrezione: Pleure, oui pleure unpubl
2. Ki1230-2 Risurrezione: Pleure, oui pleure 188.532, Decca G-20642
Odeon, Paris 1927 (between May & October)
- xxP6505-1 Lohengrin: Mon cygne aimé unpubl
3. xxP6502-2 Lohengrin: Mon cygne aimé 123.501
- xxP6506-1 Lohengrin: Aux bords lointains (Récit du Graal) unpubl
4. xxP6506-2 Lohengrin: Aux bords lointains (Récit du Graal) 123.502
- xxP6507-1 Damnation de Faust: Merci doux crépuscule unpubl
5. xxP6507-2 Damnation de Faust: Merci doux crépuscule 123.501
Odeon, Paris 1927-10-31
- Ki1344-1 Rigoletto: Comme une plûme au vent (La donna è mobile) unpubl
6. Ki1344-2 Rigoletto: Comme une plûme au vent (La donna è mobile) 188.539
- Ki1363-1 Louise: Mais un soir, dans l'escalier unpubl
7. Ki1363-2 Louise: Mais un soir, dans l'escalier 188.539
8. xxP6523-1Damnation de Faust: Nature immense 123.502
(xxP6524 is Vallin & Lafont)
9. xxP6525-1 Faust: Alerte!... Anges purs, pt 1 (w. Vallin & Lafont) 123.509, Decca D-25864
- xxP6525-2 Faust: Alerte!... Anges purs, pt 1 (w. Vallin & Lafont) unpubl
- xxP6526-1 Faust: Que voulez-vous, messieurs (w. Bourdin & Lafont) unpubl
10. xxP6526-2 Faust: Que voulez-vous, messieurs (w. Bourdin & Lafont 123.509
Odeon, Paris 1927-11-02
- xxP6528-1 Faust: Me voici, d'où vient ta surprise? (w. Lafont) unpubl
11. xxP6528-2 Faust: Me voici, d'où vient ta surprise? (w. Lafont) 123.510, Decca D-25858
12. xxP6529-1 Faust: O merveille! (w. Lafont) 123.510, Decca D-25858
- xxP6529-2 Faust: O merveille! (w. Lafont) unpubl
Odeon, Paris 1927-11/12
- Ki1406-1 Le crucifix (w. Lafont) unpubl
13. Ki1406-2 Le crucifix (w. Lafont) 188.546
14. Ki1407-1 Agnus Dei 188.546
(Ki1408 is Lafont)
15. Ki1409-1 Lohengrin: Ah, respirons tous deux (Atmest du nicht) 188.547
16. Ki1410-1 Lohengrin: Ma confiance en toi (Höchstes Vertrau'n) 188.547
Odeon, Paris 1928-07-11
17. Ki1791-1 Roméo et Juliette: Salut! Tombeau 188.600
- Ki1791-2 Roméo et Juliette: Salut! Tombeau unpubl
18. Ki1792-1 Roméo et Juliette: Pourquoi me la rends-tu si belle? 188.600
- Ki1792-2 Roméo et Juliette: Pourquoi me la rends-tu si belle? unpubl
19. Ki1793-1 Sigurd: Air d'entrée (Princes du Rhin, au pays de mon père) 188.602
- Ki1793-2 Sigurd: Air d'entrée (Princes du Rhin, au pays de mon père) unpubl
20. Ki1794-1 Sigurd: Un souvenir poignant 188.602
- Ki1794-2 Sigurd: Un souvenir poignant unpubl
Odeon, Paris 1928-07-13 and 1928-07-11
21. xxP6698-1 Roméo et Juliette: Ah, lève-toi, soleil 123.563
- xxP6698-2 Roméo et Juliette: Ah, lève-toi, soleil unpubl
22. xxP6699-1 Walkyrie: Chanson du printemps 123.563
- xxP6699-2 Walkyrie: Chanson du printemps unpubl
23. xxP6700-1 Favorite: Ange si pur 123.564
- xxP6700-2 Favorite: Ange si pur unpubl
24. xxP6701-1 Favorite: Un ange, une femme inconnue 123.564
HMV, Paris 1934-05-14
- 2PG1577 Unknown title unpubl
- 2PG1578 Unknown title unpubl
25. 2PG1579-1 Hérodiade: Ne pouvent reprimer les élans DB4938
26. 2PG1580-1 Carmen: Air de la fleur DB4938
HMV, Paris 1934-06-08
-? 0PG1651- Tannhäuser: O vierge sainte, pt 1 (w. Sibille) ?
-? 0PG1652- Tannhäuser: O vierge sainte, pt 2 ?
Columbia, New York 1942-01-06
27. XCo32444- Fidelio: Gott! Welch Dunkel hier, pt 1 71410-D
28. XCo32445- Fidelio: Gott! Welch Dunkel hier, pt 2 71410-D
Radio recordings (all live)
VIENNA STAATSOPER
17 october 1933
Samson et Dalila (excerpts in French): Duo act 2
Dalila - Rosette Anday, Samson - René Maison
Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, Conductor - Hugo Reichenberger
Compact Disc: Koch-Schwann Série Wiener Staatsoper 4
BUENOS AIRES, TEATRO COLÓN
1936
17 Sept
LOHENGRIN
Conductor - Fritz Busch, Orchestra - Teatro Colón, Chorus - Teatro Colón, Lohengrin -
René Maison, Elsa - Germaine Hoerner, Ortrud - Marjorie Lawrence, Friedrich von Telramund - Fred
Destal, König Heinrich - Alexander Kipnis, Heerrufer - Fritz Krenn
LP: Melodram MEL 310 {4 LPs)
Compact Disc: Archipel ARPCD 0182/3 {3 CDs} (2004); Premiere Opera Ltd. CDNO 1621-3 {3 CDRs} (2004)
19 Sept
DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER
Orchestra - Teatro Colón, Chorus - Teatro Colón, Holländer - Fred Destal, Senta -
Marjorie Lawrence, Daland - Alexander Kipnis, Erik - René Maison, Mary - Irra Petina,
Steuermann - Hanns Fleischer
Compact Disc: Pearl CDs 9910 (+ Götterdämmerung - extract) {2 CDs} (1992)
22 Sept
PARSIFAL
Conductor - Fritz Busch, Orchestra - Teatro Colón, Chorus - Teatro Colón, Amfortas -
Martial Singher, Titurel - Fred Destal, Gurnemanz - Alexander Kipnis, Parsifal - René Maison,
Klingsor - Fritz Krenn, Kundry - Marjorie Lawrence, Knappe 1 - Lucy Ritter, Knappe 2 - Irra Pettina,
Knappe 3 - Hanns Fleischer, Knappe 4 - Luis Santoro, Blumenmädchen 1 - Edita Fleischer, Blumenmädchen 2 -
Lucy Ritter, Blumenmädchen 3 - María Malberti, Blumenmädchen 4 - Irra Pettina, Blumenmädchen 5 -
Emma Brizzio, Blumenmädchen 6 - Yolonda di Sábat, Ritter 1 - Hanns Fleischer, Ritter 2 - Jorge
Andronoff
Compact Disc: Marston 53003 {3 CDs} (2003)
23 August 1940
DIE WALKÜRE
Conductor - Erich Kleiber, Orchestra - Teatro Colon, Brünnhilde - Marjorie Lawrence, Sieglinde - Irene
Jessner, Fricka - Rise Stevens, Siegmund - Rene Maison, Hunding - Emanuel List, Wotan - Herbert Janssen
Durations: 1:17:46 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission features); 3:01:09 (opera).
CD: Gebhardt JCGD0028
2 July 1941
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIE Nº9
Hedwig, Kinderman, Maison, Kipnis/Toscanini
LP: Arturo Toscanini Society ATS118/9
CD: Guild Historical GHCD2344 (2008); Music & Arts 1119 (2003)
MONTEVIDEO, TEATRO SOLIS
Walküre
29 September 1936
Conductor - Fritz Busch, Orchestra - Orquesta Sinfónica del Servicio Oficial de Difusión Radio y
Espectáculos, Chorus - Coros del Servicio Oficial de Difusión Radio y Espectáculos,
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
LP (excerpts): UORC 139 (1 LP)
CHICAGO CIVIC OPERA
November 21, 1938
Lohengrin
Flagstad, Maison, List/MacArthur (Act 1 only broadcast over WENR Chicago 8-9pm CST & WJZ New York 9-10pm EST in Flagstad
Archive at Stanford University)
NEW YORK METROPOLITAN OPERA
February 22, 1936
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG
Conductor - Artur Bodanzky, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera EJS 492 {3 LPs} (1970)
Compact Disc: Music and Arts 652 {4 CDs}; Guild Immortal Performances GHCD 2244/45/46/47 {4 CDs} (2003)
March 7, 1936
FIDELIO
Flagstad, Maison, Hofmann, List, Fleischer, Clemens/Bodanzky
March 28, 1936
CARMEN
Conductor - Louis Hasselmans, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 116 {3 LPs} (1957); Historical Recording Enterprises HRE 253-3 {3 LPs}
Compact Disc: Eklipse EKR-CD 6 {2 CDs}; Arkadia CDHP 452.3
December 26, 1936
SAMSON ET DALILA, complete broadcast with intermissions in NYPL & LOC
Conductor - Maurice Abravanel, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
Duration: 2:07:11 (opera); 0:45:09 (intermission features and synopsis)
LP (excerpts): EJS 516 (1 LP)
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 26 {2 CDs} (1996); Guild Immortal Performances GHCD 2273/74 (+ excerpts with
Vezzani and Duchêne) {2 CDs} (2004); Bensar OL 122636 (BRO 125865) {2 CDRs} (2005)
January 23, 1937
LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN, complete broadcast with intermissions in NYPL & LOC
Conductor - Maurice Abravanel, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
Durations: 50:51 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission feature); 2:21:23 (opera).
LP: Unique Opera Records Corporation UORC 206 {2 LPs} (1974)
Compact Disc: Naxos "Historical" 8.110011-2 {2 CDs} (1998); Arkadia "The Golden Age" GA 2033 {3 CDs} (2000);
Guild "Immortal Performances" GHCD 2315/16 {2 CDs} (2004); Bensar OL 12337 (BRO 125866) {2 CDRs} (2005)
March 27, 1937 (live)
LOHENGRIN, complete broadcast with intermissions in NYPL & LOC
Conductor - Maurice Abravanel, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, Lohengrin -
René Maison, Elsa - Kirsten Flagstad, Ortrud - Karin Branzell, Friedrich von Telramund - Julius
Huehn, König Heinrich - Ludwig Hofmann, Heerrufer - Arnold Gabor
LP: Unique Opera Records UORC 308 (3 LPs); (Extracts) EJS 557 (1 LP)
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 6 {3 CDs}; Helikon 3526 {3 CDs};
Walhall "Eternity Series" WLCD 0011 {3 CDs} (2004)
April 3, 1937
DAS RHEINGOLD, complete broadcast from the Boston Opera House with intermissions in NYPL & LOC
Conductor - Artur Bodanzky, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
Durations: 31:27 (introduction, announcements, and intermission features); 2:17:19 (opera)
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 249 {2 LPs} (1962)
Compact Disc: Walhall WHL 4 {2 CDs} (1994); Naxos "Historical" 8.110047-48 {2 CDs} (1999); Guild Music
GMCD 2221/2 {2 CDs} (2002); Naxos "Historical" 8.501106 (complete "Ring" cycle made up of performances
in 1936, 1937, 1941) {11 CDs} (2003)
April 17, 1937
CARMEN, complete broadcast with intermissions in NYPL & LOC
Conductor - Gennaro Papi, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
Durations: 53:13 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission features); 2:44:29 (opera).
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 103/104 (+Ponselle - arias) (1956);
Metropolitan Opera Guild MET-7 {3 LPs} (1980); Operatic Archives OPA 10016
Compact Disc: - Walhall WHL 15 {2 CDs} (1995)
March 19, 1938
CARMEN (24 mins from Acts 1 and 2)
Castagna, Maison, Fisher, Brownlee, Cordon, Cehanovsky, Paltrinieri, Votipka, Olheim/Papi
LP: UORC 262
December 31, 1938
FIDELIO
Conductor - Artur Bodanzky, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
LP: Unique Opera Records UORC-268 {2 LPs} Melodram MEL 307 {3 LPs} (1982)
Compact Disc: Music & Arts CD-619 {2 CDs} (1991); Dante LYS 384/385 (1998);
Bensar OL 123138 {2 CDRs} (BRO 125887) (2005)
January 28, 1939
LOUISE
extracts exist
Moore, Maison, Doe, Pinza/Panizza
February 22, 1941
FIDELIO, complete broadcast with intermission features in NYPL & LOC
Conductor Bruno Walter - 1941
Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, 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
Durations: 2:18:22 (opera); 0:38:04 (synopsis and features).
LP: E.J. Smith "The Golden Age of Opera" EJS 126 {2 LPs} (1958); Bruno Walter Society 712/713 {2 LPs};
Metropolitan Opera Guild MET 6 {3 LPs}; Accord ACC 150030 {3 LPs} (France) (1982)
Compact Disc: Dante LYS 023/024 {2 CDs}; Phonographe PH 5044/5045 {2 CDs}; Arkadia HP 628.2 {2 CDs}; Nuova
Era 2345/2346 {2 CDs}; Memories HR 4456/4457 {2 CDs}; Naxos Historical 8110054/5 {2 CDs} (1999); Arkadia
"The Golden Age" 2CD GA 2022 {2 CDs} (2000); Guild Immortal Performances GHCD 2269/70 {2 CDs} (2004);
West Hill Radio Archives WHRA 6008 (+1951 recording) {4 CDs} (2006)
March 8, 1941
ALCESTE, complete broadcast with intermission features in NYPL & LOC
Conductor - Ettore Panizza, Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, Alceste - Rose Bampton,
Admète - René Maison, Grand prêtre d'Apollon - Leonard Warren, Evandre - Alessio De Paolis,
Un héraut - George Cehanovsky, Une femme - Marita Farell
Durations: 1:00:51 (synopsis and intermission features); 2:14:11 (opera).
LP (excerpts): EJS 545
Compact Disc: Naxos Historical 8.110006-7 {2 CDs} (1998); Cantus Classics 500411 {2 CDs} (2003)
December 13, 1941
SAMSON ET DALILA (not complete, missing the first 10 mins of act 1), broadcast in LOC
René Maison (Samson), Risë Stevens (Dalila), Leonard Warren (High Priest), Norman Cordon (Abimelech),
Nicola Moscona (Old Hebrew), John Dudley (First Philistine), Arthur Kent (Second Philistine), Emery Darcy
(Philistine messenger), Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Wilfrid Pelletier, conductor, Milton Cross
(broadcast announcer).
Duration: 2:06:15
13/2/43
Boris Godunov
Conductor George Szell - 1943
Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera, Chorus - Metropolitan Opera, Boris - Alexander Kipnis,
Grigory (False Dmitry) - René Maison, Marina - Kerstin Thorborg, Pimen - Nicola Moscona, Varlaam - Norman
Cordon, Shuisky - Alessio De Paolis, Missail - John Dudley, Rangoni - Leonard Warren, Fyodor - Irra Petina,
Xenia - Marita Farell, Hostess - Doris Doe, Simpleton - John Garris
Durations: 1:17:46 (announcements, synopsis, and intermission features); 3:01:09 (opera).
LP: EJS 550 (1 excerpt)
Compact Disc - Walhall WHL 12 {2 CDs}; RRD FT1505-6; The Forties FT 1505-6; Music & Arts CD 867 (highlights)
RCA radio broadcasts
17/01/1937
Unknown arias
17/10/1937
Unknown arias
22/11/38
Unknown arias
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bibliography and Webography
Michèle Friche: Les grandes voix du Hainaut à l'époque du 78 tours, Hamburg, Lebeer-Hossmann 1985
Richard T Soper: Belgian opera houses and singers, Spartanburg, Reprint Company 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.
|
