Role

:

Conductor

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Maurice Bastin was a Belgian bass-baritone who was born on August 6, 1912, in Brussels, Belgium. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Bastin showed an early interest in music and began singing in choirs at a young age. He studied at the Brussels Conservatory and later at the Paris Conservatory, where he trained under the renowned French baritone, Charles Panzéra. Bastin made his professional debut in 1936 at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, where he sang the role of the King in Lully's opera, Armide. He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and commanding stage presence. In 1938, he made his debut at the Paris Opera, where he sang the role of the High Priest in Samson et Dalila. During World War II, Bastin continued to perform in Belgium and France, despite the dangers of performing in war-torn Europe. He sang in a number of operas, including Mozart's Don Giovanni and Verdi's Rigoletto. In 1944, he was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned in a concentration camp. He was eventually released and returned to performing after the war. Bastin's career continued to flourish in the post-war years. He performed in a number of major opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and La Scala in Milan. He was particularly renowned for his performances in French opera, including the works of Bizet, Massenet, and Debussy. One of Bastin's most notable performances was in the role of Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust. He first performed the role in 1953 at the Paris Opera and went on to perform it in many other productions throughout his career. His interpretation of the character was praised for its depth and complexity. Bastin also had a successful career as a concert singer. He performed in a number of major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London. He was particularly renowned for his performances of Bach's cantatas and Handel's oratorios. Throughout his career, Bastin received numerous awards and honors. In 1955, he was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilèges. He was also awarded the title of Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Couronne by the Belgian government in recognition of his contributions to Belgian culture. Bastin retired from performing in 1975 and devoted himself to teaching. He taught at the Brussels Conservatory and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. He also served as a judge for several international singing competitions. Maurice Bastin died on October 2, 1992, in Brussels, Belgium. He was remembered as one of the greatest bass-baritones of the 20th century, with a powerful voice and a commanding stage presence. His contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today.

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