Hugues Cuenod RIP

[kuligin]

Hugues Cuenod has died at the age of 108.

I discovered him on the Hyperion reissue of Boulangier and Monteverdi, and was suprised to discover later not only that he was still alive but still appearing on the stage aged 90 odd

[french frank]

I discovered him on that same disc. Chiome d'oro and Zefiro torna (with Paul Derenne) remained my favourite versions.

[Mary Chambers]

I remember him giving a very lively masterclass at Aldeburgh, the year Peter Pears died (1986). It was on television - those were the days! Wonderful character. Britten originally intended the part of Flute/Thisby in Midsummer Night's Dream for him, but he wasn't available to do it.

[Chris Newman]

R.I.P.
I first came across this amazing singer in Ernest Ansemet's recording of L'Enfant et des Sortileges where he sang several roles. He repeated the performances at the Proms which I sadly missed. When Raymond Leppard brought out a recod of Monteverdi songs and duets with Hugues Cuenod, Heather Harper I jumped at it. Then I heard him regularly at the Proms with Glyndebourne in Cavalli, Monteverdi and Tchaikovsky. Some years he was refused a work permit despite John Christie's plea that "He is the Danny Le Rue of Opera". He still appeared hiding under a silly beard in the chorus. The union members loved him so much they kept his presence secret.
A true artist.

[french frank]

I believe he is playing the piano on this recording, if it's the same one I heard ten or so years back on Radio 3.

[Martin]

I discovered him on that same disc. Chiome d'oro and Zefiro torna (with Paul Derenne) remained my favourite versions.

Rob Cowan played that same Zefiro torna on Breakfast this morning. With Nadia Boulanger playing the piano, I believe.

How amazing that Cuenod lived to be 108.

[Don Basilio]

He was the oldest ever entrant into a civil partnership - changes in Swiss law meant that he could finally do so at the age of 104!

[Chris Newman]

Here he is singing Chiome D'Oro with Paul Derenne as the second tenor and Nadia Boulanger at the piano, a recording of Monteverdi from the 1930s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnjuqWuhRR0

Whilst here, perhaps as a surprise (or not), he sings (in Italian) with Tito Gobbi in Berg's Wozzeck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-jmG8H-QQc

And at the age of 73 with Geoffrey Parsons listen to his singing Chabrier's "Vilanelle des petites canardes":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIRgPNkwFxI&feature=related

[gamba]

Thank you Chris for supplying the link to youtube - have enjojed this recording for ever, or so it seems !

[amateur51]

Sad news indeed, and so surprising - even though he always seemed to be so full of Puckish energy and vitality, 108 is an extraordinary age. He was even older than The Mousetrap!

Put his name into Amazon UK and you'll find just how broad his recorded repertoire was.

And this interview is from youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrpWJmSreZE&feature=related

This wonderful CD has two groups singing the Brahms Liebeslieder waltzes. Cuenod's team includes Lipatti and Boulanger.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B000024F5B/ref=dp_otherviews_0?ie=UTF8&s=music&img=0

[Chris Newman]

I meant to reply last night, amateur 51. thanks so much for the YouTube interview. Incredible!!

[amateur51]

Glad you enjoyed it, Chris - a very 'human' human being I thought.

We are the poorer for his passing but what a legacy

[verismissimo]

I went to Glyndebourne in 1987, Cuenod's last season there, when he was M Taupe in Capriccio. He was a mere 85yo.

[Budapest]

Recent radio documentary about Hugues Cuénod

Hello there. I'm a radio producer and was probably the last person to make a documentary about Cuénod while he was still alive (just 3 months ago). If interested you can hear the programme on this page...

http://www.localradio.fr/shows/cuenod/index.shtml

Here's part of the programme blurb...

Hugues Cuénod had the longest singing career in history, and at the age of 85 he was the oldest person ever to make a debut at the Met. During his long career, Cuénod knew all the greats in the worlds of music and art, including Noel Coward, Nadia Boulanger and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. The story of Cuénod's life is presented by Janet Kenny, who performed with him during a season at Glyndebourne. The programme also includes clips from an interview that Cuénod gave to Hawaii Public Radio when he was 99 years old.

[french frank]

Thank you, Budapest - much appreciated. I see it has the 1935 recording of Lord, what a mornin' ... and Don Basilio's aria from Figaro!