Jacques Bouhy

Who was Jacques Bouhy?

Jacques-Joseph-André Bouhy a Belgian baritone, most famous for being the first to sing the "Toreador Song" in the role of Escamillo in Carmen.

Bouhy was born in Pepinster. After studying at the Liège Conservatory of Music, he made his début at the Paris Opéra as Méphistophélès in 1871. He performed at the Opéra-Comique as Figaro, Escamillo in 1875. At the Comique he also created the role of Don César de Bazan in 1872. In 1882 he appeared at Covent Garden singing in Faust and Carmen. He spent time in the United States as the first director of the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York City before returning to Paris to sing the High Priest in Samson et Dalila. He was extremely popular with audiences, and counted Massenet among his admirers.

Singers taught by him or who received instruction from him include Gervase Elwes, Clara Butt, Louise Kirkby Lunn, Suzanne Adams, Bessie Abott, Leon Rains, Eva Gauthier, Lillian Blauvelt and Louise Homer.

He died at Paris in 1929.