Etienne Gibert (Tenor) (Jonquieres, near Orange, France 1859 - Paris, France 1929)
He studied singing at the Paris Conservatory with Crosti and Obin and probably made his debut in 1887 at Rouen as Fernando in Donizetti’s ‘’La Favorita’’. After a few appearances at the French province, in 1889 Gibert debuted at the Opera-Comique in Paris, where on 15. 5. 1889 he sang the role of Chevalier Roland in Massenet’s ‘’Esclarmonde’’. He remained there till 1892 and changed in 1893 to the Grand Opera in Paris, where he mostly sang heavy tenor parts (beginning role in this opera theatre: Vasco in Meyerbeer’s ‘’L’Africana’’). He remained active five years at the Grand Opera, where he also appeared in ‘’Lohengrin’’ and ‘’Tannhauser’’. Already in 1895 he performed at the opera house of Monte Carlo as Faust in Boito’s ‘’Mefistofele’’ and as Rinaldo in Gluck’s ‘’Armida’’ and made guest appearance at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels. Later he sang in Bordeaux, Nice, Lyons and Toulouse. In 1901 he went to sing in USA and made his debut at the New York Cook Opera House in Bizet’s ‘’Carmen’’. In the USA Gibert often performed with Emma Calve. For Paris he created two important parts: In 1892 he sang at the Opera-Comique the role of Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’ and in 1899 at the Theatre Nouveau the role of Tristan in ‘’Tristan and Isolde’’. Still in 1909 he appeared at the Theatre Trianon-Lyrique in the title role of Gretry’s ‘’Richard Coeur-de-lion’’. Probably he retired from the stage in 1910.
Chronology of some appearances
1887 Rouen Opera House Favorita (Fernando)
1889 Paris Opera-Comique Esclarmonde (Chevalier Roland)
1892 Paris Opera-Comique Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1893 Paris Grand Opera Africana (Vasco)
1895 Monte Carlo Opera House Mefistofele (Faust)
1899 Paris Theatre Nouveau Tristan and Isolde (Tristan)
1901 Montreal, Canada Westmount Arena Faust (Faust)
1901 Toronto, Canada Massey Music Hall Concert
1901 Toronto, Canada Massey Music Hall Romeo et Juliette (Romeo)
1901 Rochester, New York Cook Opera House Carmen (Don Jose)
1901 Buffalo, New York Convention Hall Carmen (Don Jose)
1901 Louisville, Kentucky Auditorium Carmen (Don Jose)
1901 Nashville, Tennessee Tabernacle Carmen (Don Jose)
1901 Memphis, Tennessee Auditorium Theatre Faust (Faust)
1901 Atlanta, Georgia Grand Opera House Romeo et Juliette (Romeo)
1901 New Orleans, Louisiana French Opera House Carmen (Don Jose)
1901 New Orleans, Louisiana French Opera House Faust (Faust)
1909 Paris Theatre Trianon-Lyrique Richard Coeur-de-lion
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Roi d'Ys: Aubade Aerophone 1094
Herodiade: Air de Jean Aerophone 1095
Dimitri: Invocation Edison 17587
Sigurd: Esprits gardiens Beka 664
