Michel Sénéchal facts for kids
Michel Sénéchal (born February 11, 1927 – died April 1, 2018) was a famous French singer. He was a tenor, which means he had a high male singing voice. He was especially known for playing interesting "character roles" in operas. These roles often involved acting and showing different personalities. He sang in many types of operas, from old Baroque music to newer, contemporary pieces.
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Michel Sénéchal's Life and Career
Michel Sénéchal was born in Paris, France. When he was a child, he sang in a church choir in Taverny. He later studied singing at the Paris Conservatory. This is a famous music school.
His first professional performance was in 1950. He sang at La Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium. He stayed there for two years. After that, he returned to France. He started performing in Paris at the Paris Opéra and the Opéra-Comique.
Early Roles and Famous Performances
Michel Sénéchal sang the main tenor parts in many operas. Some of these included La dame blanche, Les Indes galantes, and The Barber of Seville. He also performed at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 1956. There, he sang in Rameau's opera Platée.
He also appeared at the Vienna State Opera. He sang at the famous Salzburg and Glyndebourne festivals. In these places, he performed roles by Mozart. These roles included Ottavio and Tamino.
Operettas and Character Parts
Sénéchal often performed in operettas too. Operettas are lighter, more humorous operas. He was especially good in works by Offenbach. Some of these were Orphée aux enfers and La Vie parisienne. His funny acting skills really shined in these shows.
As he got older, Sénéchal focused more on "character roles." These are often smaller but very important parts. He played Basilio in Nozze di Figaro. He was also Goro in Madama Butterfly and Monsieur Triquet in Eugene Onegin.
His first roles at the Metropolitan Opera in New York were in 1982. He played the four servants in Les contes d'Hoffmann. Michel Sénéchal also helped create new operas. He sang in Montségur by Marcel Landowski and Doctor Faustus by Konrad Boehmer. He kept performing on stage until he was quite old, even into the early 2000s.
Teaching and Recordings
In 1979, Michel Sénéchal started teaching. He taught at "L'École d'art lyrique" (School of Lyric Art) in Paris. This school was part of the Paris Opéra. He later became the director of the school.
You can hear his voice on several recordings. Some famous ones include La dame blanche, Mireille, and Thais. These recordings were made in the early 1960s, when he was at his best.
Michel Sénéchal passed away in Eaubonne, France, on April 1, 2018. He was 91 years old.
