Name David Devries | ||
David Devriès "Berceuse" Jocelyn (Godard) Odéon ca. 1933.
David Devries (born February 14, 1881 in Bagneres-de-Luchon, France, died July 17, 1936 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) was a French operatic lyric tenor noted for his light, heady tone, and polished phrasing. He represents a light style of French operatic singing that was popular in the 19th century.
He was born into a family of professional singers that included soprano Rosa de Vries-van Os (1828–1889) and baritones Hermann Devries (1858–1949) and his father Maurice Devries (1854–1919). He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris and debuted in the role of Gerald in Delibes's Lakme at the Opera-Comique, where he regularly performed throughout his career. His repertoire included Almaviva, Don Jose, Toinet in Le chemineau, Clement in La Basoche, Armand in Massenet's Therese, Alfredo, Jean in Sapho, Rabaud's Marouf, Vincent in Mireille, Wilhelm in Mignon, Pedro in Laparra's La habanera, Des Grieux, Werther, Julien, Pinkerton and Cavaradossi as well as principal roles in many forgotten works. He created roles in the operas Aphrodite (Philodeme), Les Armaillis (Hansli), Circe (Helpenor), Le roi aveugle (Ymer) and La Victoire (un Brigadier), at the Opera-Comique.
He performed alongside Mary Garden, Luisa Tetrazzini and Dame Nellie Melba. He also gave the world premiere of Boulanger's song cycle 'Clairieres dans le Ciel', which Boulanger claimed was inspired by his voice.
In 1909-10 Devries took part in the final season of Oscar Hammerstein I's Manhattan Opera Company, singing a range of French opera, including Pelleas et Melisande, which he also performed in 1910 at Covent Garden. He created the role of Paco in Manuel de Falla's La vie breve. He was also a very active singer in oratorio, in works ranging from J. S. Bach's St Matthew Passion to Berlioz' The Damnation of Faust.
At the Paris Concerts du Conservatoire Devries sang in the B Minor Mass of J. S. Bach (1908, 1926 and 1931), the St John Passion of J. S. Bach (1914), in Beethoven's Choral Symphony (1926, and at the Beethoven centenary concert in 1927) and the 2nd part of L'enfance du Christ by Berlioz (1931).
His son Ivan (born Daniel) Devries (1909–97), great grandson of Theophile Gautier and Ernesta Grisi, was a composer and musician.