Gilbert-Louis Duprez by Disdéri (1)

Gilbert-Louis Duprez (1806-1896); French tenor who became famous for being the first tenor to deliver the high C from the chest ( in 1831 as Arnold in the Italian première of Rossini's "William Tell"). He made his debut in 1825 in "Il barbière di Siviglia". He sang at many premières. The most known are: Edgardo in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" (1835), the title-rôle in Berlioz' "Bevenuto Cellini" (1838), Fernando in Donizetti's "La favorita" (1840), Poliuto in Donizetti's "Les martyrs" (1840) and the title-rôle in Donizett's "Don Sébastiano" (1843). He ended his stage-career in 1849 and worked as a voice-teacher. His most famous pupils were his daughter Caroline Duprez, Marie Battu, Marie Miolan-Carvalho, Constance Nantier-Didiée and Emma Albani.