Nicolas Levasseur
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Levasseur was a French bass, particularly associated with Rossini roles.
Born Nicolas-Prosper Levasseur at Bresle
, Somme
, he studied at the Paris Music Conservatory from 1807 to 1811, with Pierre-Jean Garat
. He made his professional debut at the Paris Opéra
in 1813, as Osman Pacha, in La caravane du Caire by André Grétry. He sang in London at the King's Theatre
from 1815 to 1817, notably as the Count in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. He also sang at La Scala
in Milan, from 1820 to 1822, where he took part in the creation of Meyerbeer's Margherita d'Anjou
.
His greatest successes however were at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris, where he sang from 1819 until 1828. There his name became closely associated with Rossini's operas. He sang in the Paris premieres of
Mosè in Egitto
, Ricciardo e Zoraide
, La cenerentola
, La donna del lago
, and he participated in the
creation of Il viaggio a Reims
.
He returned to the Paris Opéra in 1827 and remained there until 1853, where he created all the great basso cantante roles, notably in opera such as; Le comte Ory
, Guillaume Tell, Robert le diable
, La juive
, Les Huguenots
, La favorite
, Dom Sebastien
, Le prophète
, etc.
Levasseur was considered without rivals in his time, possessing a voice of remarkable beauty and grandeur. He taught at the Paris Conservatory from 1841 until 1870. He died in Paris.
Born Nicolas-Prosper Levasseur at Bresle
Bresle
Bresle is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Bresle is situated on the D226 road, some northwest of Amiens.-Population:-External links:*...
, Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, he studied at the Paris Music Conservatory from 1807 to 1811, with Pierre-Jean Garat
Pierre-Jean Garat
Pierre-Jean Garat was a French singer and nephew of Dominique Joseph Garat. He was born in Ustaritz.Garat devoted himself from an early age to the cultivation of his musical talents...
. He made his professional debut at the Paris Opéra
Académie Royale de Musique
The Salle Le Peletier was the home of the Paris Opera from 1821 until the building was destroyed by fire in 1873. The theatre was designed and constructed by the architect François Debret on the site of the former Hôtel de Choiseul...
in 1813, as Osman Pacha, in La caravane du Caire by André Grétry. He sang in London at the King's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...
from 1815 to 1817, notably as the Count in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. He also sang at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
in Milan, from 1820 to 1822, where he took part in the creation of Meyerbeer's Margherita d'Anjou
Margherita d'Anjou
Margherita d’Anjou is an operatic melodramma semiseria in two acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The Italian libretto was by Felice Romani after a text by René Charles Guilbert de Pixérécourt. It is the fourth of Meyerbeer's Italian operas and his first real success.-Performance history:Margherita d’Anjou...
.
His greatest successes however were at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris, where he sang from 1819 until 1828. There his name became closely associated with Rossini's operas. He sang in the Paris premieres of
Mosè in Egitto
Mosè in Egitto
Mosè in Egitto is a three-act opera written by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, which was based on a play by Francesco Ringhieri, L'Osiride, of 1760....
, Ricciardo e Zoraide
Ricciardo e Zoraide
Ricciardo e Zoraide is an opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Francesco Berio de Salsa...
, La cenerentola
La Cenerentola
La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, based on the fairy tale Cinderella...
, La donna del lago
La donna del lago
La donna del lago is an opera by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola, based on The Lady of the Lake, a poem by Sir Walter Scott.This opera was the first to be based on Scott's romantic works...
, and he participated in the
creation of Il viaggio a Reims
Il viaggio a Reims
Il viaggio a Reims, ossia L'albergo del giglio d'oro is an operatic dramma giocoso, originally performed in three acts, by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Balocchi, based in part on Corinne, ou L'Italie by Mme de Staël.Rossini's last opera in the Italian language Il viaggio a...
.
He returned to the Paris Opéra in 1827 and remained there until 1853, where he created all the great basso cantante roles, notably in opera such as; Le comte Ory
Le comte Ory
Le comte Ory is an opéra written by Gioachino Rossini in 1828. Some of the music originates from his opera Il viaggio a Reims written three years earlier for the coronation of Charles X...
, Guillaume Tell, Robert le diable
Robert le diable
Robert le diable may refer to:* Robert le diable by Giacomo Meyerbeer* Robert the Devil, a medieval legend...
, La juive
La Juive
La Juive is a grand opera in five acts by Fromental Halévy to an original French libretto by Eugène Scribe; it was first performed at the Opéra, Paris, on February 23, 1835.-Composition history:...
, Les Huguenots
Les Huguenots
Les Huguenots is a French opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer, one of the most popular and spectacular examples of the style of grand opera. The opera is in five acts and premiered in Paris in 1836. The libretto was written by Eugène Scribe and Émile Deschamps....
, La favorite
La favorite
La favorite is an opera in four acts by Gaetano Donizetti to a French-language libretto by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz, based on the play Le comte de Comminges by Baculard d'Arnaud...
, Dom Sebastien
Dom Sébastien
Dom Sébastien, Roi de Portugal is a French grand opera in five acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The libretto was written by Eugène Scribe, based on Paul Foucher's play Don Sébastien de Portugal , a historic-fiction about King Sebastian of Portugal and his ill-fated 1578 expedition to Morocco...
, Le prophète
Le prophète
Le prophète is an opera in five acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The French-language libretto was by Eugène Scribe.-Performance history:...
, etc.
Levasseur was considered without rivals in his time, possessing a voice of remarkable beauty and grandeur. He taught at the Paris Conservatory from 1841 until 1870. He died in Paris.
Sources
- Guide de l’opéra, Les indispensables de la musique, R. Mancini & J-J. Rouvereux (Fayard, 1995). ISBN 2-213-01563-6