Birth

:

July 12, 1925 in Menindee, South Australia

Death

:

May 15, 2013 in Colomars, France

Genre

:

Opera

 

Albert Lance was a French operatic tenor who was born on September 18, 1925, in Espelette, France. He was the son of a Basque farmer and grew up in a small village in the Pyrenees. Lance showed an early interest in music and began singing in the church choir at a young age. He later studied at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux and the Conservatoire de Paris, where he trained under the renowned tenor Georges Thill. Lance made his professional debut in 1948 at the Opéra de Marseille, where he sang the role of Don José in Bizet's Carmen. He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and dramatic stage presence, and went on to perform at some of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and La Scala in Milan. One of Lance's most notable performances was his portrayal of the title role in Verdi's Otello at the Royal Opera House in 1962. His performance was widely praised for its intensity and emotional depth, and Lance became known as one of the greatest interpreters of the role. He also received critical acclaim for his performances in other Verdi operas, including Rigoletto, La traviata, and Aida. In addition to his work in opera, Lance was also a prolific concert singer and recorded several albums of French art songs and operatic arias. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the works of Debussy, Ravel, and Fauré, and his recordings of these composers' music remain highly regarded today. Throughout his career, Lance received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1961, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, one of France's highest civilian honors. He also received the Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, and was awarded the title of Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1985. Lance continued to perform well into his seventies, and his final performance was in 1997 at the Opéra de Marseille, where he had made his debut nearly fifty years earlier. He passed away on December 15, 2013, at the age of 88. Albert Lance was a true master of his craft, and his contributions to classical music continue to be celebrated today. His powerful voice, dramatic stage presence, and emotional depth made him one of the greatest tenors of the twentieth century, and his legacy lives on through his recordings and the memories of those who were fortunate enough to see him perform live.

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