THIS IS THE RCA VICTOR RELEASE OF THE 1930 PARIS OPERA PERFORMANCE OF FAUST BY CHARLES GOUNOD, THE CAST HEADED BY THE LEGENDARY FRENCH BASSO MARCEL JOURNET AS MEPHISTO.  THIS WAS TRULY JOURNET'S SWAN SONG AS HE DIED THREE YEARS LATER.  JOURNET WAS IN FABULOUS VOICE FOR THE SESSIONS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT HE SANG THE ROLE IN THE RECORDING STUDIO FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR.

Marcel Journet

Marcel Journet (July 25, 1867 – September 7, 1933), was a French bass singer. He enjoyed a prominent career in England, France and Italy, and appeared at the foremost American opera houses in New York City and Chicago.

Journet was born in the town of Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, and reputedly studied at the Paris Conservatory. He made his debut at Montpellier in 1891. He went on to sing a wide range of roles in operas by Richard Wagner and major French and Italian composers during a distinguished, 40-year career.

The Royal Opera House at London's Covent Garden, Milan's La Scala, the Paris Opera and the New York Metropolitan Opera, were some of the famous venues graced by Journet's presence during the first quarter of the 20th century. Arturo Toscanini was just one of the celebrated conductors under whose baton he performed. Among singers, his great on-stage colleagues included Nellie Melba, Luisa Tetrazzini, Enrico Caruso, Giovanni Martinelli, Titta Ruffo and Feodor Chaliapin.

Journet died in Vittel, of a heart attack, aged 66. He had a beautiful, cultured voice and a fine technique, hitting the absolute peak of his powers as a singer and an actor during the First World War period through to the early 1920s, when he became La Scala's principal bass. Recordings of operatic arias testify to Journet's outstanding vocal attributes and the high standard of his interpretive powers.

THE RECORDINGS ARE IN EXTREMELY GOOD CONDITION, ALL DISCS ARE CLEAN AND BRIGHT, THE ALBUMS SHOW AGE BUT NO DAMAGE

IN ADDITION TO MARCEL JOURNET, THE ROLE OF FAUST IS SUNG BY THE GREAT CORSICAN TENOR CESAR VEZZANI AND SOPRANO MIREILLE BERTHON AS MARGUERITE

THE CONDUCTOR IS THE LEGENDARY HENRI BUSSER

Henri Büsser (16 January 1872 – 30 December 1973) was a French classical composer and conductor.

Paul-Henri Büsser was born in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne), France. He entered the Conservatoire in Paris in 1889 where he studied organ with César Franck and composition with Ernest Guiraud. As musical secretary to Charles Gounod, he received valuable advice, and with Gounod's assistance, was appointed organist at Saint-Cloud. In 1893, he won the Prix de Rome for music, and upon his return from Italy, he began a career as a conductor. At the personal request of Claude Debussy, Büsser lead the fourth and all subsequent performances of Pelléas at Mélisande. Büsser also became a protégé of Jules Massenet, and was one of the elder composer's closest friends during the last two decades of his life.

He married the famous dramatic soprano Yvonne Gall (1885–1972) in Paris.

Büsser composed a wide range of compositions, especially for voice, but his most important works were for the stage. His operas include Daphnis et Chloé, Colomba, and Les noces corinthiennes. Several stage works demonstrate his comic wit, especially Le carosse du Saint Sacrement and Roxelane, as well as the farce Diaforus 60, which is an update of Molière's Le malade imaginaire. His music exhibits a sophisticated compositional style and finely crafted orchestration, however, he remained faithful to French 19th century traditions.

He also made the standard orchestration of Debussy's Petite Suite.

Henri Büsser died in Paris in 1973 at the age of 101.

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