Leon Achard by Carjat & Co

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Léon ACHARD
french tenor
February 16, 1831 - 16th, July 11, 1905

a clerk in a law firm; but, gifted with a charming tenor voice A pupil at the Music Conservatory 1854 at Théâtre-Lyrique, Achard made his debut there October 07, 1854 in the role of Tobias " Billet de Marguerite". sang with great success the tenor roles in les Charmeurs, le Muletier de Tolède, les Compagnons de la Marjolaine, le Barbier de Séville, etc.(1856), Achard signed an engagement with the director of the Lyon Opera, where his success was complete; there he created Jaguarita, the Dragons of Villars, Faust, the Amours du Diable, Rigoletto , etc., and played the repertoire. In 1862, he left and returned to Paris, at the call of Perrin, who became director of the Opéra-Comique. There, he shared the leading roles with Montaubry after the latter's departure. He took over the main roles of the old repertoire, played in Haydée, la Dame blanche, le Songe d'une nuit d'été , the tenor roles in the new pieces. On December 16, 1862, he sang the 1000th at the Opéra-Comique de la Dame blanche and Coupe du roi de Thulé He toured France and Belgium (1870-1872); then in Italy (1872-1875) and created Wilhelm Meister "Mignon" Thomas in Italian. In 1873 he entered the Opera, debuted in the "la Coupe du roi de Thulé " . Les Huguenots, L' Africane , Vasco da Gama, etc. Requiem tour , in France and Belgium (1876). In March 1876, he returned for some time to the Opéra-Comique, his real place, and brilliantly inaugurated his return to the role of Georges " la Dame blanche" . In 1880 participated in the premiere of the " King of Lahore" Massenet to Lyon. Then he left the stage and was appointed professor of lyrical declamation (opera-comic) at the Paris Conservatory from April 1, 1887 to his retirement, October 25, 1901, and public education officer.