Auguste Boudouresque by Petit (2)

Auguste Boudouresque (1835-1905); French bass.

As a young man he started a business enterprise and he owned a café in Marseille. His beautiful bass voice was admired by everyone and in 1859 he started a vocal study at the "Conservatoire de Marseille", although he continued working as a businessman and café-owner. In 1874 he made his debut at the Théâtre Valette in Marseille, almost 40 years old, as Silva in Verdi's "Ernani".The success was so great that he was immediately engaged by the Grand Opéra Paris, where he debuted in 1875 as Cardinal de Brogni in Halévy's "La Juive". Until 1884 he was a celebrated singer at this house in roles as Bertram in "Robert le Diable", as Marcel in "Les Huguenots", as Melchtal and Walter Fürst in "Guillaume Tell" and Balthasar in "La Favorita". At their premières he created the role of Timour in Massenet's "Le Roi de Lahore" (1877) and Légat in Saint-Saëns' "Henry VIII" (1883). From 1885 on he made several tours to Italy giving guest performances at Naples, Rome and Milan. In 1887 he performed in Buenos Aires at the Teatro Politeama.

His son Marcel Boudouresque (1862-1940) was also a well-known bass singer, with a similar repertoire as his father.

On the photo he is seen in his creator role of Timour in Massenet's opera "Le Roi de Lahore".