Carvalho (real name, Carvaille), Léon
Carvalho (real name, Carvaille), Léon
distinguished French baritone and opera manager; b. Port-Louis, near Paris, Jan. 18, 1825; d. Paris, Dec. 29, 1897. He studied at the Paris Cons. He began his career as a singer; in 1853 he married the French soprano Caroline Carvalho. From 1856 to 1868 he was director of the Théâtre-Lyrique, and from 1869 to 1875 chief producer at the Paris Opéra; concurrently was manager of the Théâtre du Vaudeville (1872–74). He then acted as stage manager at the Opéra, and from 1876 to 1887 was director of the Opéra-Comique, succeeding du Locle. After the fire at the Opéra-Comique in 1887, in which 131 persons perished, he was arrested and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, but was acquitted on appeal, and reinstated in 1891. He had the reputation of an enlightened administrator, encouraging young artists and young composers.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire