François Wartel
Encyclopedia
Pierre François Wartel, (born Versailles, 3 April 1806; died Paris 3 August 1882) was a French tenor and music educator. His wife was Thérèse Wartel
, a talented pianist, and their son Émile
was a bass who sang and created several operatic roles between 1857 and 1870 at the Théâtre Lyrique
and later founded his own singing school.
, but soon thereafter began studies in Choron
's Institut de la Musique Religieuse. After finishing his studies at Choron's Institute in 1828 he returned to the Conservatoire to pursue vocal studies with Banderali
and Nourrit
and obtained a first prize for singing in 1829.
From 1831 to 1846 he played small tenor parts at the Paris Opera
, where he created the role of Francesco in Berlioz's Benvenuto Celini
(10 September 1838) and roles in two operas by Donizetti, Néarque in Les martyrs (10 April 1840) and Don Gaspar in La favorite
(2 December 1840). He also played Ottokar in the Berlioz version of Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz
(7 June 1841).
Along with Nourrit he advanced the appreciation of Schubert's lieder in France by performing them frequently in his recitals, travelled to Berlin, Prague, and Vienna to give concerts, and performed 16th-century music in the Concerts Historiques of François-Joseph Fétis
(1831–1833).
Wartel devoted himself mainly to teaching after 1842 and was thought among the best teachers of the time. His most well-known pupils included Christine Nilsson and Zelia Trebelli-Bettini
.
Thérèse Wartel
Atala Thérèse Annette Wartel, née Adrien, was a French pianist, music educator, composer and critic.-Biography:...
, a talented pianist, and their son Émile
Émile Wartel
Louis Émile Wartel was an opera singer and teacher active in Paris. He was the son of the musicians François Wartel and Thérèse Wartel.-Life and career:...
was a bass who sang and created several operatic roles between 1857 and 1870 at the Théâtre Lyrique
Théâtre Lyrique
The Théâtre Lyrique was one of four opera companies performing in Paris during the middle of the 19th century . The company was founded in 1847 as the Opéra-National by the French composer Adolphe Adam and renamed Théâtre Lyrique in 1852...
and later founded his own singing school.
Biography
In 1825 François Wartel enrolled at the Paris Conservatoire as a pupil of Fromental HalévyFromental Halévy
Jacques-François-Fromental-Élie Halévy, usually known as Fromental Halévy , was a French composer. He is known today largely for his opera La Juive.-Early career:...
, but soon thereafter began studies in Choron
Alexandre-Étienne Choron
Alexandre-Étienne Choron for a short time directed the Paris Opera. He played an essential role in France in making a clear distinction between sacred and secular music, and was one of the originators of French interest in musicology.- Biography :Choron studied mathematics at the collège de Juilly...
's Institut de la Musique Religieuse. After finishing his studies at Choron's Institute in 1828 he returned to the Conservatoire to pursue vocal studies with Banderali
David Banderali
David Banderali was an Italian tenor, popular in France in the nineteenth century....
and Nourrit
Adolphe Nourrit
Adolphe Nourrit was a French operatic tenor, librettist, and composer. One of the most esteemed opera singers of the 1820s and 1830s, he was particularly associated with the works of Gioachino Rossini....
and obtained a first prize for singing in 1829.
From 1831 to 1846 he played small tenor parts at the Paris Opera
Paris Opera
The Paris Opera is the primary opera company of Paris, France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the Académie d'Opéra and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and renamed the Académie Royale de Musique...
, where he created the role of Francesco in Berlioz's Benvenuto Celini
Benvenuto Cellini (opera)
Benvenuto Cellini is an opera in two acts with music by Hector Berlioz and libretto by Léon de Wailly and Henri Auguste Barbier. It was the first of Berlioz's operas. The story is loosely based on the memoirs of the Florentine sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The opera is technically very challenging...
(10 September 1838) and roles in two operas by Donizetti, Néarque in Les martyrs (10 April 1840) and Don Gaspar in La favorite
La favorite
La favorite is an opera in four acts by Gaetano Donizetti to a French-language libretto by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz, based on the play Le comte de Comminges by Baculard d'Arnaud...
(2 December 1840). He also played Ottokar in the Berlioz version of Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It premiered on 18 June 1821 at the Schauspielhaus Berlin...
(7 June 1841).
Along with Nourrit he advanced the appreciation of Schubert's lieder in France by performing them frequently in his recitals, travelled to Berlin, Prague, and Vienna to give concerts, and performed 16th-century music in the Concerts Historiques of François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis
François-Joseph Fétis was a Belgian musicologist, composer, critic and teacher. He was one of the most influential music critics of the 19th century, and his enormous compilation of biographical data in the Biographie universelle des musiciens remains an important source of information today...
(1831–1833).
Wartel devoted himself mainly to teaching after 1842 and was thought among the best teachers of the time. His most well-known pupils included Christine Nilsson and Zelia Trebelli-Bettini
Zelia Trebelli-Bettini
Zelia Trebelli-Bettini , also known as Zelia Gilbert or by her stage name Trebelli, was a French opera singer.Mme Trebelli's artistry was greatly admired by George Bernard Shaw, who wrote about her a number of times in his various reviews...
.