The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-04-30
Roger.

Gustave Hippolyte Roger, the distin-
guished French opera singer, was born at
ChapeIle Saint-Denis, 9th of August, 1915.
His father was o notary, and his mother,
the daughter Of Corse, m actor, dramatic
author, and one Of the first directors Of the
Ambigu. His father died when Roger was
very young, and his mother educated him
TO follow the profession Of his parent, for
this purpose placing him, when he came
TO years Of discretion, at Montargis, as q
notary's clerk. But the young man had
0 passion for the theatre which was ire
sistible, and as he was gifted with q very
agreeable tenor voice be entered at the
Conservative in F~eburuary, 1886, whence
he emerged with the first prize for singing
at the end of the following year. This
honor gained for him q n engagement at
the Opera Comique, where he made his
debut. in 1888, in 'LEclair" of Halevy,
in a part which subsequently, became one of
his greatest glories. For ten years he re-
manned chief tenor Of the OPEN Comique,
playing in the ~reviyals Of lie Macon"
and 10 Domino Noir' of Auber, lie Pre-
aux Clercs" of Herold, and other operas, and
creating the leading parts in La Part du
Diable," la Sirene" and ''Haydee" Of
Auber, and lies Mousquetaires de Ia
Refine OF Hnlevy. n 1sis, Roger left the
Opera Comique to undertake an artistic
tour with Jenny Lind in England. Re-
turned TO Paris in 1919, he commenced
his memorable engagement at the Grand
Opera, In the course of which he created
the leading parts in ''Ls Prophetic of Mey
erbeer' 'Herculaneum'' of Felicien David,
'L'Enfant Prologue Of Auber, lie Juif
Erant'' of Halevy, and 9th r works. Roger
would accept no definite engagement for
o lengthy term at the Grand Opera, but
renewed it every few months, making
frequent journeys TO foreign countries, and
taking from the Grand Opera alone q Lnlary
which averaged the, in those days, enor-
nous sum of EiOO q month. For ten years
he remained at the Opera, where he
gained the highest renown, especially in the
operas OF SIeyerbeer, and particularly in the
part of Raoul, in Les Huguenots." From
1850 to 1850 Roger spent his time mostly
abroad, in Germany and elsewhere; but in
1859, while out shooting, he met with n gun
accident, which uecessitated amputation of
the arm. This scaled the end Of his career.
On the 18th of December, 1853, he appeared
for his benefit with an artificial arm, and al
though he was greeted with the most afiec-
tionate enthusiasm, he was never able to
take the position he once occupied. He
ought TO have retired in 1853, but he con-
tinued his work at other theatres, passing
downwards from the Grand Opera to the
I~taliens, then to the Opera Comique, then
TO Belgium in 1861, and 10 Vienna in 1867,
and finally, in lsGs, he attempted IN ap-
pearance at the Port st. Martin as an actor,
playing the part Of st. Gildas in George
Sands drama, "Cadio." After this he took
his leave Of tho stage, and has since devoted
his efforts to tho tuition of others in the ant
of which he was for many years 80 great
an ornament. Nominated n professor of
singing at the Conseryatoire, in place OF
Revival, he has since retained that position.
Roger has also gained some credit us a mu'
steal MerdteuF.