Jean-Alexandre Talazac by Lopez

Jean-Alexandre Talazac (1853-1896); French tenor.

He studied at the Conservatoire National de Paris and made his debut in 1877 at the Théâtre Lyrique. In 1878 he made his debut at the Opéra-Comique, where he was to enjoy his greatest successes, creating the title roles in Delibes' "Jean de Nivelle" (1880) and Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" (1881), Gérald in Delibes' "Lakmé" (1883), Des Grieux in Massenet's "Manon"(1884), Manassès in Massé's "Une nuit de Cléopâtre" (1885) and Mylio in Lalo's "Le Roi d'Ys" (1888). He sang at the French première of Saint-Saëns' "Samson et Dalila" (1890) at the Théâtre des Arts in Rouen with Carlotta Bossi as Dalila and also in 1890 at the Paris première at the Éden Théâtre with Rosine Bloch as Dalila. In 1889 he first appeared in London at Covent Garden as Alfredo in "La Traviata", as Dr. Faust in "Faust" and as Nadir in "Les pêcheurs de perles". He made guest appearances in Monte Carlo, Brussels and Lisbon. He was also active in concert and recital. He was regarded as a highly stylish singer noted for the purity and brilliance of his voice. In 1880 he married the soprano Hélène Fauvelle, who shortly after their marriage retired from the stage.