Saleza, Albert

1865-

Noted singer, who was born in Bruges, Belgium, and lived there until his twentieth year, when he went to study music at the Paris Conservatory. In 1888 Saleza won the first singing prize and the second opera prize and the same year made his operatic debut, at the Opera Comique, as Mylio in Roi d'Ys. Saleza's voice is a pure and powerful tenor. He has a wide range of parts and is equally as popular in the United States as he is in Europe, having been heard here many times. In 1894 he created the role of Otello in Verdi's opera of that name. He has sung with success the roles of Faust, Rodolphe in La Boheme, Don Jose in Carmen, Jean in Le Prophete, Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Rhadames in Aida. In Wagnerian opera he has been heard as Siegmund in Die Walkure. His greatest success has been as Romeo in Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. Saleza visited the United States in 1898 and 1899. At Nice he created the role of Eneas in Berlioz's Prise de Troie, and sang the part of Richard in Salvayre's Richard III., also being heard as Matho in the first presentation of Salammbo at Brussels in 1890. Since 1892 he has been engaged at the Paris Ope*ra.