François-Louis(-Ferdinand) Henry (12 May 1786 – 22 February 1855) was a French baritone, who sang for about 35 years with the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where he created numerous leading roles. His stage name was Henri (or Henry).Kutsch & Riemens 2003, pp. 2038–2039. He has also been referred to as François-Louis Deshayes.Henry, François-Louis (1790-18..), Notice de personne, BnF.
Birth and identity He was born in Versailles with the family name of Deshayes. Relatively little is known about his life, and during his career at the Opéra-Comique he was only identified as Henry or Henri. However, it is as good as certain that he is identical with François-Louis Henry, who attended, and later taught at, the Conservatoire de Paris.
Paris Conservatory Henry first attended the conservatory as a supernumerary, beginning on 13 May 1803. He became a coach (répétiteur) without pay on 23 May 1808 and professor of singing preparation (préparation au chant) on 1 July, again without pay.Pierre 1900, p. 446 in Personnel administratif et enseignant (Administrative and teaching personnel). He was a student of Charles Simon Catel, a professor of harmony, and won a second prize in harmony in 1810.Pierre 1900, p. 521, Liste des prix accordés dans le cours d'études de 1810 / École de Musique (List of prizes awarded in the course of study of 1810 / School of Music). This entry reverses his first names, listing him as "HENRY (Louis-François)", and he is also listed as Henry (Louis-François)" on p. 773, Dictionnaire des Lauréats (Dictionary of Prize Winners), where the dates of birth and death are identical to those for "Henry* (François-Louis)" in the entry on p. 446. For Catel, see p. 439.
On 1 April 1816 Henry was appointed to a paid position as professor of vocalization (vocalisation). Among his students were Julie Dorus () and Cornélie Falcon (), who both later became leading sopranos at the Paris Opera.Pitou 1990, p. 381 ("Dorus-Gras, Julie Aimée Josephe"); Warrack and West 1992, p. 230 ("Falcon, Cornélie"). He became a professor of singing (chant) for a two-year trial (prior to 9 June 1835) and received his permanent position as professor of singing on 1 January 1837. He retired on 15 November 1842.
Opéra-Comique
The first record of Henry having sung at the Opéra-Comique is on 29 June 1813 in the premiere of Boieldieu's opera Le nouveau seigneur de village. The singer's most noteworthy creations there included Gaveston in Boieldieu's La dame blanche (1825) and Sergeant Sulpice in Donizetti's La fille du régiment (1840). He also sang at the premiere of George Onslow's opera Le duc de Guise. He continued to appear regularly with the company until 1849.
On 6 December 1846 Henry sang Brander in the premiere of Berlioz's La damnation de Faust, a concert performance at the Opéra-Comique conducted by the composer. He also sang the role under Berlioz on 15 March 1847 at the Mikhaylovsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, 18 April 1847 at the Maly Theatre in Moscow, and 10 June 1847 at the Neues Königliches Schauspielhaus in Berlin.Casaglia 2005.
After about 1845 Henry was also active as a stage director at the Opéra-Comique. His stagings included the premieres of Halévy's 3-act Les mosquetaires de la reine on 3 February 1846, Xavier Boisselot's 3-act Ne touchez pas à la reine! on 16 January 1847, Halévy's 3-act Le val d'Andorre on 11 November 1848, and Armand Limnander's 3-act Les Monténégrins on 31 March 1849.Wild & Charlton 2005, pp. 336–337, 339, 436.
Henry's farewell performance was in 1850 (after his official retirement), when he performed Fortunatus in Auber's L'ambassadrice.
He died in Paris.
Roles created
Date Role Opera Composer Ref 29 June 1813 Le nouveau seigneur de village François-Adrien Boieldieu 5 March 1816 La fête du village voisin François-Adrien Boieldieu Kutsch & Riemens 2003, p. 2038. These authors give the date of the premiere of La fête du village voisin as 8 March 1816. Wild & Charlton 2005, p. 254, give the date as 5 March 1816, as does the libretto at Google Books. 18 October 1817 La clochette Ferdinand Hérold 25 January 1823 Lord Hudson Leicester Daniel Auber Leicester, libretto at Google Books. 3 May 1825 Rica Le maçon Daniel Auber Le maçon: Kutsch & Riemens 2003, p. 2038, give Henry's role as Rica; the libretto at Google Books lists M. Alphonse in this role and does not otherwise mention Henry. 10 December 1825 Gaveston La dame blanche François-Adrien Boieldieu La dame blanche, libretto at Google Books. 12 August 1826 Marie Ferdinand Hérold Marie: the libretto at Gallica does not list Henry. 28 January 1830 Mathéo Fra Diavolo Daniel Auber 14 February 1831 corsaire La veillée Alexandre Paris 24 May 1834 Golofkin Lestocq ou L'intrigue et l'amour Daniel Auber Lestocq ou L'intrigue et l'amour Notice de spectacle at BnF. Libretto at Google Books. 13 October 1835 Faribolini Cosimo ou le peintre badigeonneur Cosimo ou le peintre badigeonneur Notice de spectacle at Bnf. 9 April 1836 Gilbert Les chaperons blanc Daniel Auber 13 October 1836 Biju Le postillon de Lonjumeau Adolphe Adam Le postillon de Lonjumeau, libretto at Google Books. 8 September 1837 Larchant Guise ou les états de Blois George Onslow Guise ou les états de Blois, Notice de spectacle at BnF. 21 March 1838 négociant Lequel? ou Le fils et orphelin Aimé Leborne 30 March 1838 Pierre-le-Grand Le perruquier de la Régence Ambroise Thomas Le perruquier de la Régence, Notice de spectacle at BnF. 18 June 1838 Maître Birminstel Marguerite Adrien-Louis BoieldieuSon of François-Adrien Boieldieu Marguerite libretto at Gallica. Only 8 un-orchestrated measures were by Boildieu père (Wild & Charlton 2005, p. 319). 31 October 1838 Sergeant Toby Le brasseur de Preston Adolphe Adam Le brasseur de Preston, Notice de spectacle at BnF. 15 November 1838 John Porter Lady Melvil, ou Le joaillier de Saint-James Albert Grisar Lady Melvil, ou Le joaillier de Saint-James (created at the Théâtre de la Renaissance at the Salle Ventadour), libretto at Google Books. 15 April 1839 3rd Neapolitan Les treize Fromental Halévy 14 June 1839 Bambolino Bambolini Polichinelle Alexandre Montfort 2 September 1839 Sheriff Turner Le shérif Fromental Halévy Le shérif, Notice de spectacle at BnF. 11 February 1840 Sergeant Sulpice La fille du régiment Gaetano Donizetti 6 March 1841 Rebolledo Les diamants de la couronne Daniel Auber 8 August 1841 Marcelin Camille ou le souterrain (revival)Camille ou le souterrain was premiered by the Théâtre Feydeau on 19 March 1791. Nicolas Dalayrac Camille ou le souterrain, Notice de spectacle at BnF. 17 August 1841 L'aïeule Adrien-Louis Boieldieu 1 December 1841 Doctor Magnus La jeunesse de Charles-Quint Alexandre Montfort La jeunesse de Charles-Quint, libretto at Google Books. 17 January 1842 Babylas Le diable à l'école Ernest Boulanger Le diable à l'école, libretto at Google Books. 4 February 1842 Mugnoz Le duc d'Olonne Daniel Auber Le duc d'Olonne, Notice de spectacle at BnF. 20 April 1843 Sheriff Bolbury Le puits d'amour Michael William Balfe Le puits d'amour, libretto at Google Books. 14 September 1843 John-Bred Lambert Simnel Hippolyte Monpou Lambert Simnel, libretto at Google Books. 10 February 1844 Tomassi Cagliostro Adolphe Adam Cagliostro, libretto at Google Books. 26 March 1844 Bolbaya La sirène Daniel Auber 10 February 1845 Shepherd Les bergers trumeaux Louis Clapisson 9 August 1845 Major Krifkraffen Le ménétrier ou Les deux duchesses Théodore Labarre Le ménétrier ou Les deux duchesses, libretto at Google Books. 15 May 1846 Goulard Le trompette de Monsieur le Prince François Bazin Le trompette de Monsieur le Prince, Notice de spectacle at BnF. Casaglia 2005 lists Henri as Brassac. 19 November 1846 Lord Catesby Gibby la cornemuse Louis Clapisson Gibby la cornemuse, libretto at Google Books. 11 November 1848 Grand Syndic Le val d'Andorre Fromental Halévy Le val d'Andorre, libretto at Google Books. 3 January 1849 Aboul-y-far Le caïd Ambroise Thomas Le caïd, libretto at Google Books.
Notes
Bibliography
Kutsch, K. J. and Riemens, Leo (2003). Großes Sängerlexikon (fourth edition, in German). Munich: K. G. Saur. . Pierre, Constant, editor (1900). Le Conservatoire national de musique et de déclamation. Documents historiques et administratifs. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale. 1031 pages. View at Google Books. Pitou, Spire (1990). The Paris Opéra: An Encyclopedia of Operas, Ballets, Composers, and Performers. Growth and Grandeur, 1815–1914. New York: Greenwood Press. . Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992). The Oxford Dictionary of Opera. Oxford: Oxford University Press. . Wild, Nicole; Charlton, David (2005). Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique Paris: répertoire 1762-1972. Sprimont, Belgium: Editions Mardaga. .