A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Roger, Gustave
ROGER, Gustave Hippolite, eminent French singer, born Dec. 17, 1815, at La Chapelle-Saint-Denis, Paris. He was brought up by an uncle, and educated at the Lycée Charlemagne for the legal profession, but his studies were so neglected for an amateur theatre of which he was the leading tenor and self-constituted manager, that he was at length allowed to follow his real vocation. He entered the Conservatoire in 1836, and after studying for a year under Martin carried off the first prizes both for singing and opéra-comique. He obtained an immediate engagement, and made his début at the Opéra Comique, Feb. 16, 1838, as Georges in 'L'Eclair.' To a charming voice and distinguished appearance he added great intelligence and stage tact, qualities which soon made him the favourite tenor of the Parisian world, and one of the best comedians of the day. Ambroise Thomas composed for him 'Le Perruquier de la Régence' and 'Mina,' Halévy gave him capital parts in 'Les Mousquetaires de la Reine' and 'Le Guitarrero,' and Auber, always partial to gentlemanlike actors, secured him for 'Le Domino Noir,' 'La Part du Diable,' 'La Sirene,' and 'Haydée.' Clapisson too owed to him the success of his 'Gibby la cornemuse.' In 'Haydée' the tenor of the Théâtre Favart so distinguished himself as Lorédan that Meyerbeer declared him to be the only French artist capable of creating the part of John of Leyden. In consequence, after ten years of uninterrupted success, Roger left the Opéra Comique for the Académie, where on April 16, 1849, he created an immense sensation with Mme. Viardot, in 'Le Prophète.' His acting was quite as good in tragedy as it had been in comedy, but his voice could not stand the wear and tear of the fatiguing répertoire he had now to undertake. During the next ten years however he was invaluable at the Opéra, creating new parts in the 'Enfant prodigue,' the 'Juif errant,' and many more. His best creation after John of Leyden, and his last part at the Opéra, was Helios in David's 'Herculanum' (March 4, 1859). In the following autumn he lost his right arm while shooting, by the bursting of a gun; he reappeared with a false one, but with all his skill and bravery he could not conceal his misfortune, and found himself compelled to bid farewell to the Académie and to Paris.
He went once more to Germany, which he had been in the habit of visiting since 1850, and where he was invariably successful, partly owing to his unusual command of the language. After this he sang in the principal provincial theatres of France, and in 1861 reappeared at the Opéra Comique in his best parts, especially that of Georges Brown in 'La Dame Blanche,' but it was evident that the time for his retirement had arrived. He then took pupils for singing, and in 1868 accepted a professorship at the Conservatoire, which he held till his death, Sept. 12, 1879.
Roger was of an amiable and benevolent disposition. He talked well, wrote with ease, and was the author of the French translation to Haydn's 'Seasons,' and of the words of several romances and German Lieder. His book, 'Le Carnet d'un ténor' (Paris, Ollendorff, 1880), is a portion of his autobiography. It contains an account of his visits to England in 1847 (June), and 1848 (June–Nov.), when he sang at the Royal Italian Opera, and made an artistic tour in the provinces with Mlle. Jenny Lind, and other artists.