A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Begrez, Pierre

by Julian Marshall

BEGREZ, Pierre Ignace, born at Namur Dec. 23, 1783. At the age of six he sang in the choir of the cathedral of St. Aubin. After some years he went to Paris, and was received in a violin-class at the Conservatoire, the 17th Floréal, An xii. (1804). He was at the same time engaged in the orchestra of the Opera, then under the direction of Grasset. Finding, however, that he possessed a fine tenor voice, he soon threw aside the violin, and studied singing under Garat, from October 1806. In 1814 he carried off the first prize at the Conservatoire, and in 1815 he made his first appearance at the opera in Gluck's 'Armide,' which he followed with the principal parts of 'Les Bayadères' and 'Anacréon.' About the end of the same year he was engaged for the London Opera House, where he remained a permanent member of the company at the King's Theatre till 1822, when he retired from the boards, and devoted himself to teaching and singing in concerts. He had a beautiful voice, and good French style. He died Dec. 1863.

[ J. M. ]