André Pernet

(b Rambervillers, Vosges, 6Jan1894; d Paris , 23 June 1966). French bass. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire with André Gresse and made his début at Nice in 1921. After seven years in the French provinces he was engaged in 1928 by the Paris Opéra and became their leading bass; from 1931 he also appeared at the Opéra-Comique. At the Opéra he was much admired as Boris Godunov , Don Quichotte , Méphistophélès and Don Giovanni . He created, among other parts, the title roles in Darius Milhaud's Maximilien (1932) and George Enescu's Oedipe (1936) and Shylock in Reynaldo Hahn's Le marchand de Venise (1935). In that year he also appeared at the Orange opera festival in La damnation de Faust. He made guest appearances throughout Europe and appeared in the film version of Gustave Charpentier's Louise (1939). His many recordings reveal a firm, supple voice of ample range and a notable feeling for words.