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Germaine CernayFrench opera singer, mezzo-soprano
Date of Birth: 28.04.1900
Country:  France |
Content:
- Biography of Germaine Cernay
- Stage Debut and Opera Roles
- Concerts and International Performances
- Expansion of Repertoire
- Passing
Biography of Germaine Cernay
Germaine Pointu Le Havre, better known as Germaine Cernay, was a French opera singer and mezzo-soprano. She was born on April 28, 1900. Before enrolling at the Paris Conservatoire, Cernay had already been studying piano. At the Conservatoire, she learned the secrets of vocal mastery under the guidance of the best local teachers.
Stage Debut and Opera Roles
Cernay made her stage debut at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on May 16, 1927. Her first role was the hunchback in the Paris premiere of Franco Alfano's "Risurrezione." She went on to perform in various productions, including Pierre de Bréville's "Éros Vainqueur," Paul Dukas' "Ariane et Barbe-bleue," André Messager's "Béatrice," Jacques Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann," Léo Delibes' "Lakmé," Jules Massenet's "Manon," Ambroise Thomas' "Mignon," Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly," Charles Gounod's "Mireille," and Claude Debussy's "Pelléas et Mélisande."
Concerts and International Performances
Cernay regularly performed in major French cities and also had the opportunity to travel abroad. She gave concerts in North Africa, Switzerland, Belgium, England, Ireland, and Italy.
Expansion of Repertoire
Cernay was able to significantly expand her repertoire thanks to her performances on French radio. She mastered the roles in "Carmen," "Le roi d'Ys," "La damnation de Faust," "Don Quichotte," and "La Lépreuse." She was highly regarded as one of the most distinguished concert altos, and her interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach's works were particularly popular among audiences.
Collaboration with Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire
From 1931 to 1942, Cernay performed actively with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. She sang the alto part in Bach's "Magnificat" for the first and only time.
