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Miguel VillabellaFrench operatic tenor of Spanish origin
Date of Birth: 20.12.1892
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Miguel Villabella
Miguel Villabella was a French opera tenor of Spanish origin, one of the most popular performers of his time. He left a considerable number of recordings made for 'Pathé' and 'Odeon Recordings' from 1921 to 1936. Villabella owed his popularity not only to his beautiful voice and excellent technique but also to his considerable personal charm.
Early Life and Musical Education
Miguel Villabella was born on December 20, 1892, in Bilbao, Spain. His father, a renowned baritone throughout Spain, was responsible for his initial musical education. However, he did not want his son to pursue a career as an opera artist and asked him to not follow in his footsteps. Despite this, Miguel's fate had a different plan for him.
After completing his studies in commerce, Miguel went to Paris for an internship. However, he couldn't escape his destiny. One day, while walking down the street, the famous French baritone Lucien Fugère heard Miguel singing and immediately offered him singing lessons. Just a few months later, Miguel Villabella had his preliminary debut, performing excerpts from 'Rigoletto.' He returned to Paris and sang in hospitals for wounded French soldiers.
Operatic Career
In Paris, Villabella continued his training under the guidance of Fugère and Jacques Isnardon, an outstanding bass-baritone who was also the teacher of Joseph Rogachevsky. In 1920, Miguel made his debut at the Opéra-Comique, portraying the role of Spoletta in 'Tosca.' He subsequently achieved success in André Messager's comic opera 'Fortunio' and became one of the most beloved opera artists in Paris.
His popularity led to further invitations to perform at the Opéra-Comique and the Paris Opera. Villabella had a wide repertoire and participated in productions such as Giacomo Puccini's 'La Bohème,' Édouard Lalo's 'Le Roi d'Ys,' Mozart's 'Così fan tutte,' Verdi's 'La Traviata,' Georges Bizet's 'Carmen' and 'Les pêcheurs de perles,' as well as 'Roméo et Juliette,' 'Lakmé,' 'Le Barbier de Séville,' 'Manon,' 'Mireille,' 'La Dame Blanche,' 'Faust,' 'Werther,' 'Tosca,' and 'Rigoletto.' He mainly toured in French and Belgian theaters.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1940, Miguel Villabella retired from the stage and became one of the most respected vocal teachers in Paris until his death. He passed away on June 28, 1954, at the age of 91. Villabella's voice possessed power, a unique individual timbre, and was incredibly beautiful and agile in the upper register. His manner of performance was characterized by emotion, grace, and elegance.
