Gabriel Dussurget (1 January 1904 – 28 July 1996) was a French impresario and opera director. He was the co-founder of the
Aix-en-Provence Festival
The Festival d'Aix-en-Provence is an annual international music festival which takes place each summer in Aix-en-Provence, principally in July. Devoted mainly to opera, it also includes concerts of orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo instrumenta ...
, an annual summer opera festival in
Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Ais de Provença in classical norm, or in Mistralian norm, ; la, Aquae Sextiae), or simply Aix ( medieval Occitan: ''Aics''), is a city and commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. ...
, and served as its Artistic Director from 1948 to 1973. He also served as the Artistic Director of the
Paris Opera
The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be ...
from 1959 to 1972. He became known as the "Magician of Aix" for his work at the opera festival
Biography
Early life
Gabriel Dussurget was born on 1 January 1904 in
Aïn M'lila
Aïn M'lila ( ar, عين مليلة, ''Ayn Malīlah''; which means "the white source", the root ''m-l-l'' being of Berber origin) is a town and Communes of Algeria, commune in Oum El Bouaghi Province, Algeria. According to the 2008 census it has ...
near
Biskra
Biskra ( ar, بسكرة ; ; Latin Vescera) is the capital city of Biskra Province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 307,987. Biskra is located in northeastern Algeria, about 248 miles (400 km) from Algiers, 71 miles (115&nbs ...
in
French Algeria
French Algeria (french: Alger to 1839, then afterwards; unofficially , ar, الجزائر المستعمرة), also known as Colonial Algeria, was the period of French colonisation of Algeria. French rule in the region began in 1830 with the ...
.Aix-en-Provence Historical Society: Gabriel Dussurget /ref> He attended public schools in
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
and learned to play the piano. He moved to France with his parents shortly after
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
to receive treatment for
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
Baccalauréat
The ''baccalauréat'' (; ), often known in France colloquially as the ''bac'', is a French national academic qualification that students can obtain at the completion of their secondary education (at the end of the ''lycée'') by meeting certain ...
in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
.
Career
He worked as a dancer in Paris in the 1930s. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, he founded a drama school in Paris with his partner, Henri Lambert. His students included
Jean-Louis Barrault
Jean-Louis Bernard Barrault (; 8 September 1910 – 22 January 1994) was a French actor, director and mime artist who worked on both screen and stage.
Biography
Barrault was born in Le Vésinet in France in 1910. His father was 'a Burgundia ...
,
Ginette Neveu
Ginette Neveu (11 August 191928 October 1949) was a French classical violinist. She was killed in a plane crash at the age of 30.
Early life
Neveu was born on 11 August 1919 in Paris into a musical family. Her brother Jean-Paul became a class ...
Yvonne Loriod
Yvonne Louise Georgette Loriod-Messiaen (; 20 January 1924 – 17 May 2010) was a French pianist, teacher, and composer, and the second wife of composer Olivier Messiaen. Her sister was the Ondes Martenot player Jeanne Loriod.
Biography
Loriod ...
,
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonically ...
,
Raymond Rouleau
Raymond Rouleau (4 June 1904 – 11 December 1981) was a Belgian actor and film director. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1928 and 1979. He also directed 22 films between 1932 and 1981. Rouleau studied at the Royal Conservatory of B ...
ballet
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
company, with
Roland Petit
Roland Petit (13 January 192410 July 2011) was a French ballet company director, choreographer and dancer. He trained at the Paris Opera Ballet school, and became well known for his creative ballets.
Life and work
The son of shoe designer Ros ...
and
Boris Kochno
Boris Evgenievich Kochno or Kokhno (russian: Бори́с Евге́ньевич Кохно́; 3 January 1904 – 8 December 1990) was a Russian poet, dancer and librettist.
Early life
Kochno was born in Moscow, Russia, on 3 January 1904. His fa ...
.
A few years later, in 1948, he co-founded the
Aix-en-Provence Festival
The Festival d'Aix-en-Provence is an annual international music festival which takes place each summer in Aix-en-Provence, principally in July. Devoted mainly to opera, it also includes concerts of orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo instrumenta ...
with Countess
Lily Pastré
Countess Lily Pastré (a.k.a. Marie-Louise Double de Saint-Lambert) (1891–1974) was a French heiress and patron of the arts. She sheltered many Jewish artists in her Château Pastré in Marseille during World War II. After the war, she helped e ...
and businessman Roger Bigonnet, Director of the casino in Aix.Edmonde Charles-Roux parle de la Comtesse Lily Pastré , Culture 13Lily Pastré, mécène éclairé et âme généreuse ''
La Croix La Croix primarily refers to:
* ''La Croix'' (newspaper), a French Catholic newspaper
* La Croix Sparkling Water, a beverage distributed by the National Beverage Corporation
La Croix or Lacroix may also refer to:
Places
* Lacroix-Barrez, a muni ...
'', 4/8/13D. Kern Holoman, ''The Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire, 1828-1967'', Oakland, California: University of California Press, 2004 , p. 47 /ref>Hommage à Gabriel Dussurget ''
L'Humanité
''L'Humanité'' (; ), is a French daily newspaper. It was previously an organ of the French Communist Party, and maintains links to the party. Its slogan is "In an ideal world, ''L'Humanité'' would not exist."
History and profile
Pre-World Wa ...
'', July 31, 1997Michel Parouty Aix : la grande fête du chant depuis 1948 '' Les Echos'', July 11, 2003Ina: Gabriel Dussurget évoque la fondation du Festival d'Aix-en-Provence /ref> Countess Pastré stepped out of the Board of Trustees in 1949, when Dussurget wanted the festival to become more "professional." Over the years, he hired opera singers
Teresa Berganza
Teresa Berganza Vargas OAXS (16 March 1933 – 13 May 2022) was a Spanish mezzo-soprano. She is most closely associated with roles such as Rossini's Rosina and La Cenerentola, and later Bizet's Carmen, admired for her technical virtuosity, m ...
,
Gabriel Bacquier
Gabriel Bacquier (; 17 May 1924 – 13 May 2020) was a French operatic baritone. One of the leading baritones of the 20th century and particularly associated with the French and Italian repertoires, he was considered a fine singing actor equ ...
,
Renato Capecchi
Renato Capecchi (born Cairo, November 6, 1923; died Milan, June 30, 1998) was an Italian baritone, actor, and opera director.
He sang in the Italian premiere of Shostakovich's '' The Nose'' and Prokofiev's ''War and Peace'', and in the world pr ...
,
Roger Soyer
Roger Soyer (born 1 September 1939) is a French operatic bass-baritone, particularly associated with the French repertory and with Mozart.
Soyer was born in Thiais, and first studied privately with G. Daum, before entering the Conservatoire de Pa ...
José Van Dam
Joseph, Baron Van Damme (born 27 August 1940 in Brussels), known as José van Dam, is a Belgian bass-baritone.
At the age of 17, he entered the Brussels Royal Conservatory and studied with Frederic Anspach. A year later, he graduated with diplo ...
Teresa Stich-Randall
Teresa Stich-Randall ( Stich; 24 December 1927 17 July 2007) was a European-based American soprano opera singer.
From 1959 to 1972 he also served as Artistic Director of the
Paris Opera
The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be ...
. He retired in Paris in 1973, where he mentored young artists. For example, he "discovered"
Roberto Alagna
Roberto Alagna (; born 7 June 1963) is a French operatic tenor. He obtained French citizenship in 1981, while also retaining his previous Italian citizenship.
Early years
Alagna was born in Clichy-sous-Bois, outside the city of Paris, in 1963 to ...
.
Personal life
He was a homosexual. His first relationship was with
Maurice Escande
Maurice Escande (14 November 1892 – 10 February 1973) was a French stage and film actor. In 1948 he starred in the film '' The Lame Devil'' under Sacha Guitry.
Selected filmography
*1917: ''Un vol étrange'' (Short)
*1918: '' Simone'' - Mi ...
of the
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...
. In 1928, he became the life partner of Henri Lambert, a wealthy antiques dealer.
Renaud Machart Renaud Machart (born 22 March 1962) is a French journalist, music critic, radio producer and music producer.
Biography
Renaud Machart was born in Lannion, and first studied music under the direction of his father and then with Claudette Bohn, pr ...
Le Monde
''Le Monde'' (; ) is a French daily afternoon newspaper. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average circulation of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009, about 40,000 of which were sold abroad. It has had its own website si ...
'', June 27, 2008 They resided in Paris and owned a house in
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
from 1928 to 1938. Henri Lambert died in 1959.
Legacy
*His bust was dedicated inside the Cite du Livre in Aix-en-Provence in 2006.Un buste Gabriel Dussurget bientôt dévoilé ''
La Provence
''La Provence'' is a French language daily newspaper published in Marseille, France.
History and profile
In 1997 ''La Provence'' was created in Marseille from the merger of two daily newspapers, '' Le Provençal'' of former Interior Minister Ga ...
'', June 26, 2006
*The Prix Gabriel Dussurget is an annual award given to a promising opera singer during the Aix-en-Provence Festival.Christophe Rizoud Une rue au nom de Gabriel Dussurget ''Forum Opera: Le Magazine du Monde Lyrique'', June 25, 2014 In 2014, it was awarded to Mari Eriksmoen.
*In 2014, the Rue Gabriel Dussurget was named in his honour in Aix-en-Provence.
*The Association Gabriel Dussurget is a non-profit organizations in his honour.