Paul Lhérie

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Paul Lhérie (b. Paris October 8, 1844, d. Paris October 17, 1937) a French tenor (later baritone), most famous for playing the original Don José in Carmen. His débute was at the Opéra-Comique in 1866 as Méhul's Joseph. He created the role of Charles II in Massenet's Don César de Bazan in 1872, Benoît in Delibes's Le Roi l'a dit in 1873, and Don José in Bizet's Carmen in 1875. In 1882 he went baritone, beginning by singing Posa (Don Carlos) at La Scala. He also spent time at Covent Garden, singing Zurga (Les Pêcheurs de Perles), Rigoletto, Germont (La Traviata), Luna, and Alphonse (La favorite). In 1891 Lhérie originated the baritone role of rabbi David in L'amico Fritz, of particular interest since he himself was Jewish. He retired from the stage in 1894.

[edit] References

• Elizabeth Forbes, Lhérie, Paul, The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, 1992, London, ed. Sadie, Stanley.