Adolphe Grognier, known under the pseudonym Jean-Baptiste Quélus, (14 January 1813 – 14 December 1883) was a French actor and singer. The son of lawyer (1777-1832), and Hélène Caylus, he was appointed twice as director of

La Monnaie The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie (, ; , ; both translating as the "Royal Theatre of the Mint") is an opera house in central Brussels, Belgium. The National Opera of Belgium, a federal institution, takes the name of this theatre in which it is ho ...

of Brussels, in 1854 and 1856.

Life

Born in

Aurillac Aurillac (; ) is the prefecture of the Cantal department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Geography Aurillac is at above sea level and located at the foot of the Cantal mountains in a small sedimentary basin. The city is b ...

, Grognier was first a sailor, then actor. In 1843 he met the young

Rachel Rachel () was a Bible, Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, and the mother of Joseph (Genesis), Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel. Rachel's father was Laban (Bible), Laban. Her older siste ...

in Lyon with whom he fell in love and whose acting troupe he joined for a while. He was then teacher of singing at the

Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (, ) is a historic conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Providing performing music and drama courses, the institution became renowned par ...

where one of his last pupils was his compatriot

Emma Calvé Emma Calvé, born Rosa Emma Calvet (15 August 1858 – 6 January 1942) was a French operatic dramatic soprano. Calvé was probably the most famous French female opera singer of the Belle Époque. Hers was an international career, and she sang ...

. Grognier died in Brussels at age 70.

Award

Chevalier of the Ordre de Léopold.

Publications

* ''Études dramatiques et oratoires, conseils aux comédiens et aux chanteurs'', Brussels, éditions De Dietrie-Thomson, 1858

Sources

* ''Souvenir du 22 mai 1881 - Fête organisée en faveur de M. Grognier-Quélus, professeur de déclamation au conservatoire de Bruxelles'', Bruxelles, éditions Félix Calewaert-père, 1881 * ''Journal de Hélène Delpech de Frayssinet, née Grognier'', 1897, AD15.

External links

Les directeurs du Théâtre de la Monnaie
(La Monnaie) {{DEFAULTSORT:Grognier, Adolphe 1813 births 1883 deaths People from Aurillac Male actors from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes French stage actors French theatre directors 19th-century French singers Academic staff of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels Directors of La Monnaie