Giovanni Voyer

Born in the province of Valencia, he had French parents, and his real name was Jean Boyer. He studied singing in Milano with conductor Lorenzo Molajoli and made his debut in 1927 as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the Teatro Sociale in Ostiglia (near Mantova). Throughout his career, he used the stage name Giovanni Voyer.

His first major success came in 1929 in Brescia, again as Pinkerton. From 1933 to 1948, he had a great career at La Scala; his debut role there was Ismaele, but before long, La Scala cast him as a heldentenor. He was very successful there in 1937 as Tristan, as Maurizio, as Boito's Nerone, in Goyescas by Enrique Granados or in the world premiere of Margherita di Cortona by Licinio Refice (1 January 1938). His final role at La Scala was Parsifal. He was also a frequent guest at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice and the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome.

In Rome, he sang Kaiser in the Italian premiere of Die Frau ohne Schatten (1938), a part that he repeated at La Scala in 1940. He further sang at the Arena di Verona, at the Maggio musicale in Florence (world premiere of Re Lear by Vito Frazzi, 29 April 1939), in Parma, at the Carlo Felice in Genova, in Trieste, at the Teatro Comunale in Florence, in Naples, Palermo or Bergamo.

He sang in other European countries: at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London in 1933, in La damnation de Faust (it was the first time that work was given at Covent Garden, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham); in Zürich, in 1935 (Norma); in 1936 in Holland (Den Haag and Amsterdam) as a member of the Italian Opera Company; in 1938 in La Valletta (Malta) at the Royal Opera House, in the last season at that beautiful theatre before it was completely destroyed by the German airforce; in 1939 in Lisbon (Francesca da Rimini) and in 1947 only one performance of Tristan und Isolde at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, sung in German except for Voyer, who sang his role in Italian and was substituing an ailing German tenor. It was the only time Voyer sang in his native Spain.

Though he appeared in most of the traditional Italian repertoire: Madama Butterfly, La bohème, Manon Lescaut, Tosca, Turandot, Norma, La traviata, Iris, Pagliacci, Fedora and Andrea Chénier, he also sang some titles that were rarely performed in those years, such as La vestale, La Wally, Edgar, Francesca da Rimini, L'incoronazione di Poppea or Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria. From the French repertory, he sang Carmen, and from the Russian repertory, Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina (in Italian). He won a reputation as one of the best Wagnerian tenors of the time, singing many performances of Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde, Tannhäuser, Die Walküre and Parsifal. By Richard Strauss he sang also Salome and Elektra, and by Weber Der Freischütz. He even sang Beethoven's Fidelio and the Ninth Symphony. Of course also all the German titles were sung in Italian.

He was frequently called by Italian theatres to sing contemporary operas like Goyescas by Enrique Granados, Madonna Oretta by Primo Riccitelli; Cecilia by Licinio Refice; Fedra and Orseolo by Ildebrando Pizzetti. And he sang a lot of world premieres: La figlia del re by Adriano Lualdi, Re Hassan by Giorgio Federico Ghedini, Re Lear by Vito Frazzi, Rosaspina by Giulio Confalonieri, Medusa by Bruno Barilli, L'ombra by Ugo Bottacchiari, Salammbò by Franco Casavola, In terra di leggenda by Luigi Rocca, Gli Orazi by Ennio Porrino, Margherita da Cortona by Refice, Antigone by Lino Liviabella, David, il re pastore by Luigi Cortese, Villon by Alberto Bruni Tedeschi.

In the last years of his career, he sang primarily in France and Belgium: in Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nîmes, Liège or Verviers; and he added new repertory: Enzo Grimaldo, Samson, Otello, Hérodiade, Monna Vanna by Février.

Voyer became a professor of voice at the conservatory in Den Haag in 1950; he also sang on Radio Hilversum (Les Troyens or Rossini's Stabat mater). He mostly retired from stage in 1953, and taught voice at the conservatory in Lisbon from 1954 to his death; he still appeared occasionally in comprimario parts in Lisbon, the last time in 1974 as Goro in a performance with Luis Lima as Pinkerton.

The following is a summary of some important performances in his career:

1927 Ostiglia, Teatro Sociale: Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1929 Brescia, Teatro Grande: Madama Butterfly
1929 Piacenza, Teatro Municipale: Madama Butterfly
1930 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: La figlia del re (Ariuna)
1930 Parma, Teatro Reinach: Madama Butterfly
1931 Parma, Teatro Reinach: La traviata (Alfredo)
1932 Verona, Teatro Filarmonico: Madonna Oretta (Conte)
1932 Firenze, Teatro Comunale: Die Schöpfung (Uriel)
1932 Ferrara, Teatro Verdi: La traviata
1933 Torino, Teatro Regio: Lohengrin (Lohengrin)
1933 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Lohengrin
1933 London, Covent Garden: La damnation de Faust (Faust)
1933 Torino, E.I.A.R.: Andrea Chénier (Andrea)
1933 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Nabucco (Ismaele)
1934 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Mosè by Lorenzo Perosi (Aronne)
1934 Torino, E.I.A.R: Salome (Herodes)
1934 Roma, E.I.A.R.: Norma (Pollione)
1934 Roma, E.I.A.R: Madonna Oretta
1934 Torino, E.I.AR.: Tristan und Isolde (Tristan)
1935 Genova, Teatro Carlo Felice: Norma
1935 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Lohengrin
1935 Genova, Teatro Carlo Felice: Norma
1935 Zürich, Stadttheater: concert and Norma
1935 Roma, E.I.A.R.: Edgar by Puccini (Edgar)
1935 Torino, E.I.A.R: La damnation de Faust
1935 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Norma
1936 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Orseolo (Rinieri Fusiner)
1936 Parma, Teatro Regio: Carmen (Don José)
1936 Genova, Teatro Carlo Felice: Lohengrin
1936 Torino, Teatro Vittorio Emanuele: Carmen
1936 Roma, Teatro Reale dell'Opera: Tristan und Isolde
1936 Torino, E.I.A.R.: Boris Godunov (Grigorij)
1936 Roma, E.I.A.R.: Halka (Jontek)
1936 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: concert
1936 Fano, Teatro Municipale della Fortuna: Manon Lescaut (des Grieux)
1936 Den Haag, Gebouw voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen: Pagliacci (Canio)
1936 Amsterdam, Theater Carré: La bohème (Rodolfo)
1936 Amsterdam, Theater Carré: Andrea Chénier
1936 Den Haag, Gebouw voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen: Nabucco
1936 Parma, Teatro Regio: Tristan und Isolde
1937 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Tristan und Isolde
1937 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1937 Roma, Teatro Reale dell'Opera: Lohengrin
1937 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: La damnation de Faust
1937 Firenze, Giardino di Boboli: L'incoronazione di Poppea (Nerone)
1937 Roma, Teatro Adriano: Nabucco
1937 Roma, E.I.A.R.: Salome
1937 Carpi, Teatro Comunale: La traviata
1937 Carpi, Teatro Comunale: Manon Lescaut
1937 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Tristan und Isolde
1937 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Goyescas (Fernando)
1938 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Margherita da Cortona (Uberto)
1938 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Carmen
1938 Genova, Teatro Carlo Felice: Tristan und Isolde
1938 Roma, Teatro Reale dell'Opera: Die Frau ohne Schatten (Kaiser)
1938 Verona, Arena: Nabucco
1938 Trapani, Luglio Trapanese: Andrea Chénier
1938 Adria, Teatro del Littorio: Lohengrin
1938 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: concert
1938 Valletta (Malta), Royal Opera House: Turandot (Calaf)
1938 Valletta (Malta), Royal Opera House: Carmen
1938 Valletta (Malta), Royal Opera House: Andrea Chénier
1938 Valletta (Malta), Royal Opera House: La Wally (Hagenbach)
1938 Valletta (Malta), Royal Opera House: Iris (Osaka)
1938 Como, Teatro Sociale: Cecilia (Valeriano)
1939 Novara, Teatro Coccia: La Wally
1939 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Re Hassan (Hussein)
1939 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Die Walküre (Siegmund)
1939 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)
1939 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Fidelio (Florestan)
1939 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Nerone (Nerone)
1939 Firenze, Teatro Comunale: Re Lear (Edgardo)
1939 Lisboa, Teatro Municipal São Luiz: Francesca da Rimini
1939 Bologna, Piazza del Baraccano: Lohengrin
1939 Bergamo, Teatro Donizetti: Rosaspina (Principe)
1939 Roma, E.I.A.R.: Elektra (Aegisth)
1939 Roma, E.I.A.R.: Fedra (Ippolito)
1939 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Conchita by Riccardo Zandonai (Mateo)
1940 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Die Frau ohne Schatten
1940 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Maria Egiziaca by Ottorino Respighi (Marinaio)
1940 Mantova, Teatro Sociale: Carmen
1940 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Tristan und Isolde
1940 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Medusa (Troilo)
1940 Forlì, Teatro Comunale: Adriana Lecouvreur
1940 Roma, Teatro Adriano: Stabat mater by Licinio Refice
1941 Novara, Teatro Coccia: Francesca da Rimini )
1941 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Gli Orazi (Publio Orazio)
1941 Genova, Teatro Carlo Felice: David, il re pastore (role unknown)
1941 Reggio Emilia, Teatro Municipale: Francesca da Rimini )
1941 Bergamo, Teatro Donizetti: Villon (Villon)
1941 Trento, Teatro Sociale: Francesca da Rimini
1941 Parma, Teatro Regio: Lohengrin
1941 Parma, Teatro Regio: Antigone (Principe)
1941 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Norma
1941 Como, Teatro Sociale: La Wally
1942 Roma, Teatro Reale dell'Opera: Orseolo
1942 Roma, Teatro Reale dell'Opera: Boris Godunov
1942 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Lo stendardo di San Giorgio by Mario Peragallo (Rainaldo Arcanto)
1942 Firenze, Teatro Comunale: Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (Ulisse)
1942 Bologna, Sala Bossi: Petite messe solennelle
1942 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: La conversione di San Guglielmo, duca d'Acquitania by Pergolesi (Guglielmo)
1942 Roma, Teatro Reale dell'Opera: La vestale (Licinius)
1942 Treviso, Teatro Comunale: Fedora (Loris)
1942 Como, Teatro Sociale: Andrea Chénier
1945 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Francesca da Rimini
1943 Roma, Teatro Reale dell'Opera: L'incoronazione di Poppea
1943 Firenze, Teatro della Pergola: Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria
1943 Como, Teatro Sociale: L'ombra (Wolfango)
1944 Mantova, Teatro Sociale: Lohengrin
1944 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Lohengrin
1944 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Tristan und Isolde
1944 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Lohengrin
1944 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Ninth Symphony by Beethoven
1944 Milano, Teatro Puccini: La traviata
1944 Como, Teatro Sociale: Carmen
1945 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Tosca (Cavaradossi)
1945 Venezia, Campo Sant'Angelo: Carmen
1945 Milano, Castello Sforzesco: Carmen
1945 Ferrara, Teatro Comunale: Carmen
1945 Pavia, Teatro Fraschini: La traviata
1946 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Francesca da Rimini
1946 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Nabucco
1946 Milano, Teatro Lirico (La Scala company): Adriana Lecouvreur
1946 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Lohengrin
1947 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Fidelio
1947 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Ninth Symphony by Beethoven
1947 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Lohengrin
1947 Barcelona, Gran Teatre del Liceu: Tristan und Isolde
1947 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Tannhäuser (Tannhäuser)
1947 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Moïse et Pharaon (Aménophis)
1948 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Fidelio
1948 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Khovanshchina (role unknown, probably Andrej Khovanskij)
1948 Milano, Teatro alla Scala: Parsifal (Parsifal)
1948 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Tannhäuser
1948 Roma, Teatro dell'Opera: Salammbò by Carlo Casavola (Matho)
1948 Firenze, Teatro Comunale: Lohengrin
1948 Palermo, Teatro Massimo: Lohengrin
1948 Torino, Teatro Lirico: Die Walküre
1948 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Tannhäuser
1948 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Tristan und Isolde
1948 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Der Freischütz (Max)
1948 Lyon, Opéra: Tannhäuser
1948 Lyon, Opéra: Lohengrin
1948 Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Boris Godunov
1949 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Die Walküre
1949 Palermo, Teatro Massimo: Die Walküre
1949 Trieste, Teatro Verdi: Tannhäuser
1949 Napoli, Teatro San Carlo: Margherita da Cortona
1949 Trieste, Castello San Giusto: Lohengrin
1949 Vicenza, Teatro Olimpico: L'incoronazione di Poppea
1949 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: L'incoronazione di Poppea
1949 Torino, Teatro Nuovo: Tannhäuser
1949 Reggio Emilia, Teatro Municipale: Tannhäuser
1949 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: Lohengrin
1949 Bordeaux, Grand-Théâtre: La Gioconda (Enzo Grimaldo)
1949 Liège, Théâtre Royal: La Gioconda
1949 Lyon, Opéra: Monna Vanna (Prinzivalle)
1950 Verviers, Grand-Théâtre: Monna Vanna
1950 Verviers Grand-Théâtre: Otello (Otello)
1950 Verviers, Grand-Théâtre: Samson et Dalila (Samson)
1950 Bordeaux, Grand-Théâtre: Hérodiade (Jean)
1950 Bordeaux, Grand-Théâtre: Die Walküre
1950 Nîmes, Théâtre (?): Lohengrin
1950 Nîmes, Théâtre (?): Der Freischütz
1950 Nîmes, Théâtre (?): Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Walther von Stolzing)
1951 Venezia, Teatro La Fenice: La Wally
1951 Rovereto, Teatro Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini
1952 Den Haag, Radio Hilversum: Les Troyens à Carthage (Énée)
1953 Den Haag, Radio Hilversum: Stabat mater by Rossini
1953 Nice, Opéra: Die Walküre
1974 Lisboa, Teatro São Carlos: Madama Butterfly (Goro)

Other performances (no dates found)
Bologna, Teatro Comunale: Boris Godunov (with Nicola Rossi-Lemeni)

Special thanks to Emy Scicluna, Rudi van den Bulck and Jaume Tribò, who provided the information on Voyer's performances in Malta, Holland, France, Belgium and Spain.

Dicography
Columbia, Milano, early 1929
B2361	Il trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti (w. Sibari)		D6110

Columbia, Milano, about March 1929
B2511   Carmen (Bizet): Il fior che avevi a me tu dato			D6033
B2514   Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Addio, fiorito asil (w. Vanelli)	D6033

Columbia, Milano, July 1929
B3607   La traviata (Verdi): Questa donna conoscete			CQ264
B3609   La traviata (Verdi): Dei miei bollenti spiriti			CQ264
B3619   Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Un dì all'azzurro spazio, pt.1	CQ266
B3621   Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Un dì all'azzurro spazio, pt.2	CQ266
B3626   Zazà (Leoncavallo): Mai più, Zazà				CQ267
B3628   Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Come un bel dì di maggio		CQ267

Columbia, Milano, about June 1931
B4198   La favorite (Donizetti): Una vergine				CQ714
B4201   Lohengrin (Wagner): Mercè, mercè, cigno gentil			CQ714

Columbia, Milano, date unknown
CB6807	Nabucco (Verdi): Coro di leviti					GQ7188, DQ1185

Live recording
Die Frau ohne Schatten (Strauss), in Italian (excerpts at least extant)
Teatro alla Scala, Milano, 1940
conductor: Gino Marinuzzi
Kaiser: Giovanni Voyer
Kaiserin: Stella Roman
Barak: Benvenuto Franci
Färberin: Iva Pacetti
Amme: Hilde Monti
Geisterbote: Massimiliano Serra
Der Einäugige: Leone Paci
Der Einarmige: Eraldo Coda
Der Bucklige: Gaetano Fanelli
Falke: Clara Bucci Rossi
Hüter der Schwelle des Tempels: Maria Concetta Zama
Stimme des Jünglings: Angelo Mercuriali

Radio recording
Les Troyens à Carthage (Berlioz) (excerpts)
Radio Hilversum, Den Haag, 24 June 1952
conductor: Willem van Otterloo
Énée: Jean Voyer
Didon: Arda Mandikian
Anna: Ines Chabal
Iopas: Paul Derenne
Ascagne: Mattiwilda Dobbs
Panthée: Guus Hoekman
Narbal: Jean Claverie
Hylas: Michel Sénéchal

I wish to thank Juan Dzazópulos for the biography (original version) and the recording (Come un bel dì).

I wish to thank Richard J Venezia for the recording (Nabucco).

I would like to thank Thomas Silverbörg for the recording (Un dì all'azzurro spazio).

I would like to thank Vladimir Efimenko for the recording (Carmen).

Tom Kaufman, Juan Dzazópulos, Roberto Marcocci and Christian Torrent have contributed to the discography.