Marcel Journet

The Complete Solo Gramophone Recordings: 1909-1933

COMPLETE TRACK LISTING
LINER NOTES
A NOTE FROM WARD MARSTON

One of the most remarkable singers of the first third of our century was bass Marcel Journet. Like a fine wine and unlike almost any other singer, Journet improved with age. As a favorite of Toscanini, Journet premiered in Boito's Nerone and sang many standard roles throughout the 20s when Journet was well into his fifties. During this late period, Journet's high range increased to almost baritone-proportions and his vocal range spanned from a Low E to a High G. His recording career was no less exceptional: Journet was one of the most prolific basses in the 78 era. This 2-CD set chronicles Journet's complete solo recordings for the Gramophone Company. Because of the enormous catalog of records for Victor, only three of these Gramophone sides were issued in the US and many of these sides are exceeding scarce.

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Track Listing
CD 1 (79:11)
Paris, Black label
1. Les sapins (Dupont) 4:23
5 June 1909; (01053v) 032157
2. LA JOLIE FILLE DE PERTH: Air de Ralph ("Quand la flamme de l'amour") (Bizet) 3:57
7 June 1909; (01063v) 032158
3. DIE WALKÜRE: Les adieux de Wotan {Leb' wohl} (Wagner) 7:36
7 June 1909; (01064v/01066v) 032159/60
4. ROMÉO ET JULIETTE: Dieu, qui fis l'homme (Gounod) 4:22
with Marthe Bakkers, soprano, and Antonio Rocca, tenor
7 June 1909; (01065v) 034075
5. DON GIOVANNI: Air de Leporello {Madamina, il catalogo...Nella bionda} (Mozart) 6:47
11 June & 26 November 1909; (14930u/01255v) 4-032944/032130
6. LA FAVORITE: Anathème de Balthazar (Donizetti) 3:56
with Louis Dupouy, baritone
11 June 1909; (01091v) 034076
7. LE NOZZE DI FIGARO: A mes désirs rebelles {Vedrò, mentr'io} (Mozart) 3:00
15 June 1909; (14944u) 032945
8. PHILÉMON ET BAUCIS: Que les songes (Gounod) 3:36
15 June 1909; (01097v) 032132
9. Symphonie Légendaire: Prière ("Dans le cimetière aux murs blancs") (Godard) 3:55
15 June 1909; (01099v) 032161
10. Les boeufs (Dupont) 3:21
26 November 1909; (15458u) 4-32008
11. LOHENGRIN: Prière {Mein Herr und Gott} (Wagner) 3:50
26 November 1909; (01254v) 032129
12. LA DAMNATION DE FAUST: Esprit des flammes (Berlioz) 2:25
28 February 1910; (155291/2u) 4-32080
Paris, Red label
13. ASCANIO: Enfants, je ne vous en veux pas (Saint-Saëns) 3:11
15 May 1922; (BS383-2) 7-32072
14. MONNA VANNA: Dis-la vite (Février) 3:01
16 May 1922; (BS384-2) 7-32074
15. DIE WALKÜRE: Les adieux de Wotan {Leb' wohl} (Wagner) 6:27
16 May 1922; (BS386-3/BS387-1) 7-32075/6
Milan, Red label
16. NERONE: Nell'antro ov'io m'ascondo tutto vedrò. . . Ecco il magico specchio (Boito) 4:45
16 May 1924; (CK 1486-3) DB733
17. NERONE: Gloria al tuo Dio ["Pensa: i Reami"] (Boito) 2:52
4 December 1924; (Ck-1776-2) DB819
18. DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG: Follia! Follia!. . .La luccioletta {Wahn! Wahn! überall Wahn!} (Wagner) 6:38
16 December 1924; (Ck 1813-3/Ck1812-2) DB827
All tracks accompanied by orchestra
Languages: All selections are sung in French, except for Tracks 16-18 which are sung in Italian
CD 2 (78:49)
Paris, Red label
1. CARMEN: Je suis Escamillo (Bizet) 3:28
with Fernand Ansseau, tenor
11 October 1927; (CTR3177-1) DB1098
2. Le père la victoire (Ganne) 2:21
11 October 1927; (BTR3179-1) DA930
3. Marche Lorraine (Ganne) 2:56
11 October 1927; (BTR3180-1) DA930
4. DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG: Monologue de Hans Sachs {Was duftet doch der Flieder} (Wagner) 5:23
26 October 1927; (BTR3289-2/BTR3290-2) DA951
5. THAÏS: La paix soit avec vous (Massenet) 3:38
7 March 1928; (CK2768-2) DB1196
6. THAÏS: Honte! Horreur! (Massenet) 3:58
7 March 1928; (CK2769-1) DB1196
7. THAÏS: Va, mendiant . . . De ton amour (Massenet) 6:06
with Michel Cozette, baritone
7 March 1928; (CK2770-2/CK2771-2) DB1169
8. THAÏS: Baigne d'eau tes mains (Massenet) 2:56
with Fanny Heldy, soprano
7 November; (BTR3345-1) DA940
9. DIE WALKÜRE: Les adieux de Wotan {Leb' wohl} (Wagner) 14:22
13 March 1928; (CK2790-2/CK2791-2/CK2792-2 /CK2793-1) DB1156/7
10. FAUST: Mais ce Dieu. . .Ici je suis (Gounod) 8:54
with Fernand Ansseau, tenor
27 September 1929; (CS4271-2/CS4270-2) DB1364
11. FAUST: Alerte, alerte! (Gounod) 2:52
with Fernand Ansseau, tenor, and Fanny Heldy, soprano
26 February 1930; (CF2995-2) DB1609
12. Vos yeux (Luce) 4:07
21 May 1930; (CF3274-2) DB1452
13. Fin du rêve (Luce) 4:23
21 May 1930; (CF3275-2) DB1452
14. DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG: Rêve, rêve. . .Un elfe a tout fait {Wahn, Wahn, überall Wahn} (Wagner) 5:26
10 June 1931; (0G838-2/0G839-2) DA1229
15. O salutaris (Luce) 3:25
11 May 1933; (0PG743-1) DA1329
16. Ceux qui pieusement sont morts pour la patrie (Letorey) 3:34
11 May 1933; (0PG744-1) DA1329
All tracks accompanied by orchestra except Tracks 12-13 with piano, Track 15 with violin and harmonium, Track 16 with harp and harmonium
Languages: All selections are sung in French, except for Track 15 which is sung in Latin

Photographs: Girvice Archer and Charles Mintzer

Producers: Scott Kessler and Ward Marston

Audio Conservation: Ward Marston

Booklet Design: Takeshi Takahashi

Marston would like to thank Richard Bebb, J. Neil Forster, Victor Girard, Denys Harry, Lawrence F. Holdridge, John Humbley, Alan Kelly, Peter Lack, Charles Letellier, Tom Peel, William Shaman, Milt Weiss and Christian Zwarg for their help in the production of this CD release.