Jules-Célestien Devoyod by Unknown with autograph

Jukes-Célestien Devoyod (1841-1901); French bass-baritone.
He studied at the Paris Conservatoire National with Nicolas Levasseur and Joseph Couderc. In 1867 he made his debut at the Grand Opéra in Paris as Nelusco in Meyerbeer's ''L'Africaine''. From 1870 on he appeared at the major French provincial theatres of Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse and he also made some guest performances abroad. In 1873 he was engaged by the Opera House in New Orleans (USA). In the 1874/78 seasons he appeared at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels and in 1888 he sang at the Teatro de l'Opera in Buenos Aires. Since 1875 he had great success at the Imperial Opera of St. Petersburg. In 1883, 1884, 1887 and 1891 he appeared at Covent Garden, where he created the role of Ivan Susanin in the English première of Glinka's ''A Life for the Tsar'', a part which he also performed in 1890 in the French première of the opera in Nice and in 1896 in the Paris première. In 1893 he sang at La Scala in Milan the role of Wotan in Wagner's ''Die Walküre''. Nevertheless he had his greatest success at the opera houses of St. Petersburg and Moscow as well as at the guest performances and concerts in the centers of the Russian musical life. He passed away quite suddenly during a performance of Verdi's ''Rigoletto'' at the Moscow Hermitage Theatre.

The dedication on the photo is for the baritone/tenor Augusto Brogi and is written and signed by Devoyod. The dedication reads as follows:

Souvenir affectueuse offert à
l'ami Brogi
Jules Devoyod