Émile-Alexandre Taskin by Charles

Émile-Alexandre Taskin (1853-1897); French baritone.

In 1875 he made his debut as a concert singer in Paris in the oratorio "L'Enfance du Christ" by Hector Berlioz. In the same year he made his stage debut in Amiens as Roland in Halévy's "Les mousquetaires de la Reine". After he had attracted attention in the French provinces, he was engaged at the Théâtre Ventadour (1878). In 1879 he was engaged at the Opéra-Comique where he remained until 1894. Here he participated in numerous premieres and took part in some music-historically important world premieres of operas. He created the role of the count of Charolais in Delibes' opera "Jean de Nivelle" (1880) and the roles of Lindorf, Coppélius and Docteur Miracle in Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" (1881).In 1884 he created the role of Lescaut in Massenet's "Manon", in 1885 Bocchoris in Massé's "Une nuit de Cléopâtre", in 1887 Squarocca in Saint-Saëns'"Proserpine" and in 1889 Phorcas in Massenet's "Esclarmonde".He became very popular in the great fire of the Opéra-Comique on the 25.5.1887 during a performance of the opera "Mignon". Through his prudence he saved the lives of many spectators and for this he was awarded a medal by the French Government. With increasing ill-health he retired from the stage and became a professor at the Conservatoire National de Paris. In 1897 he died at the age of 44.

He was married to the singer Sophie Champion and their daughter Arlette Taskin was a concert singer.