David Devriès

as Werther in "Werther" by Massenet
David Devriès
February 14, 1881 -July 17, 1936
French tenor
His father was baritone Maurice Devriès (1854–1919). He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris and débuted in the role of Gérald in Delibes's “Lakmé” at the Opéra-Comique, where he regularly performed. His repertoire included Almaviva, Don José, Toinet in “Le chemineau”, Clément in “La Basoche,” Armand in Massenet's “Thérèse”, Alfredo, Jean in “Sapho”, Rabaud's “Mârouf”, Vincent in “Mireille”, Wilhelm in “Mignon”, Pedro in Laparra's “La habanera”, Des Grieux, Werther, Julien, Pinkerton and Cavaradossi . He created roles in the operas “Aphrodite” (Philodème), “Les Armaillis” (Hansli), “Circé” (Helpénor), “Le roi aveugle” (Ymer) and “La Victoire” (un Brigadier), at the Opéra-Comique. He also gave the world premiere of Boulanger's song cycle 'Clairières dans le Ciel', In 1909-10 Devriès took part in the final season of Oscar Hammerstein I's Manhattan Opera Company, singing French opera, including Pelléas et Mélisande, which he also performed in 1910 at Covent Garden. He created the role of Paco in Manuel de Falla's “La vie breve”. He was also a active singer in oratorio, in works ranging from J. S. Bach's St Matthew Passion to Berlioz' The Damnation of Faust.At the Paris Concerts du Conservatoire Devriès sang in the B Minor Mass of J. S. Bach (1908, 1926 and 1931), the St John Passion of J. S. Bach (1914), in Beethoven's Choral Symphony (1926, and at the Beethoven centenary concert in 1927) and the 2nd part of L'enfance du Christ by Berlioz (1931).