A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lassalle, Jean

LASSALLE, Jean, was taught singing at the Paris Conservatoire. He made his début at Brussels as De Nevers, Sept. 5, 1871, and during the season also played Ashton ('Lucia'), Nelusko, Telramund, Count of Moravia in Julius Beer's 'Elizabeth of Hungary,' etc. He made a successful début at the French Opera as Tell, June 7, 1872. With the exception of visits to London, Vienna, etc., M. Lassalle has been engaged there ever since, where he is now the principal baritone singer. His parts include Don Juan, played by him at the centenary performance Oct. 26, 1887, Pietro ('Masaniello'), Lusignan ('Reine de Chypre '), Rigoletto, Hamlet, and in new operas Vasile (Membrée's 'Esclave'), July 17, 1874; Scindia ('Roi de Lahore'), April 27, 1877; Sévère ('Polyeucte '), Oct. 7, 1878; Ben Saïd ('Tribut de Zamora' ), April 1, 1881; Lanciotto Malatesta ('Françoise de Rimini'), April 14, 1882; Henry VIII., March 5, 1883; Gunther ('Sigurd'), June 12, 1885; De Rysoor ('Patrie'), Dec. 20, 1886. On leave of absence he played at the Lyrique as the Count de Lusace in Joncières' 'Dimitri,' May 5, 1876. He made his début in Italian at Covent Garden as Nelusko, June 14, 1879, on the occasion of Patti's first performance of Selika. He played there for three seasons with the greatest success. His other parts new to the Italian stage were Scindia ('Roi de Lahore'), June 28, 1879, and the Demon in Rubinstein's opera, June 21, 1881. He visited England again in 1888, appearing at Covent Garden in several of his best parts.

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