His real name was Maurice Machabanski.
He studied singing in 1957 at the Paris Conservatory. He was drafted in the Algerian wars and had to interrupt his studies.
He made his debut in 1962 in Reims as Grigorij. In 1963, he made his debut at the Opéra, where he sang mostly comprimario roles. Therefore
he left the Opéra in 1966.
He sang with success in other French cities. He was back at the Opéra 1969–71.
In Glyndebourne, he sang German in 1971, and Bacchus in 1972.
Other guest appearances include:
1974 Théâtre de la Monnaie
1975 Grand Théâtre in Genève
1977 Glasgow
1981 Dublin
Palermo, Madrid, Den Haag, Montréal, Santa Fe, Montevideo, Moscow (Bolshoj), Teheran.
1974 Rouen (world premiere of Antoine et Cléopâtre by E. Bondeville
He continued to sing mainly in French provincial cities until the early 1980s.
His repertory included:
Pollione, Radames, Don Carlo, Turiddu, Canio, Otello, Cavaradossi, Chénier, Florestan, Samson, Tambourmajor, German, José, Dick
Johnson, Masaniello, Bacchus....
Reference: Kutsch & Riemens
