Country

:

France

Birth

:

May 17, 1924 in Béziers, France

Death

:

May 13, 2020 in Lestre, Normany, France

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Gabriel Bacquier was a French operatic baritone who was born on May 17, 1924, in Béziers, France. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Bacquier began his musical training at a young age and studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he won first prize in singing in 1950. Bacquier made his professional debut in 1950 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he sang the role of Escamillo in Georges Bizet's Carmen. He quickly established himself as one of the leading baritones of his generation and went on to perform in many of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan. One of Bacquier's most notable performances was in the title role of Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House in London in 1964. His performance was widely praised by critics and audiences alike, and he went on to perform the role in many other productions throughout his career. Bacquier was also known for his performances in French opera, particularly in the works of Jules Massenet and Charles Gounod. He sang the role of Valentin in Gounod's Faust at the Metropolitan Opera in 1965, and he performed the role of Lescaut in Massenet's Manon at the Paris Opera in 1970. In addition to his work in opera, Bacquier was also a prolific recitalist and performed in many concerts and festivals throughout his career. He was known for his interpretations of French art songs and was particularly admired for his performances of the works of Gabriel Fauré and Claude Debussy. Bacquier received many awards and honors throughout his career, including the title of Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres from the French government in 1984. He was also awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of Rigoletto in 1965. Bacquier retired from the stage in 1994 but continued to teach and mentor young singers. He was known for his generosity and kindness to his students and was widely respected as a teacher and mentor in the world of opera. Gabriel Bacquier passed away on May 13, 2020, at the age of 95. He was remembered by his colleagues and fans as one of the greatest baritones of his generation and a true ambassador of French opera. His legacy lives on through his recordings and the many singers he inspired and mentored throughout his career.

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