Léon Rothier

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Rothier (right, singing) performing Verdi's Requiem at the Polo Grounds in New York City in 1916, along with Giovanni Zenatello, Lucile Lawrence and Maria Gay; Koemerich conducting.

Léon Rothier (December 26, 1874 – December 6, 1951) was a French musician, predominantly an opera singer in the bass range,^[1] of the early 20th century.

Rothier was born in 1874 in Reims, in the Champagne-Ardenne région of northern France. In this city he began his career as a violinist, but afterwards traveled to the Conservatoire de Paris to study voice. In 1899, he made his singing debut at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, in Charles Gounod's Philémon et Baucis. In 1900, he participated in the premiere of Gustave Charpentier's Louise. In 1907, Rothier left the Opéra-Comique, and after some short stints in a few French theatres, moved to the United States, beginning a thirty-year association with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He was still giving public performances as late as 1949, at the Town Hall.

Rothier made several sound recordings during his lifetime, including two scenes from Un ballo in maschera with Enrico Caruso. He also appeared in at least one motion picture.

He died in New York city on December 6, 1951.^[2]