The 1925 Victor catalog observes:
Edmond Clément was one of the very fine French tenors to emerge around
the turn of the century. He studied singing at the Conservatoire (Paris) and
made his début at the Opéra-Comique in 1889 in Gounod’s
Mireille.
He took part in the premières of Saint-Saëns’
Phryné
and Bruneau’s
L’attaque du moulin
as well as the first performances in Paris of
Falstaff
and
Butterfly.
In 1896 he was in the first
Don Giovanni
ever given at the Opéra-Comique, and in 1904 sang Don José in
the 1000th performance of
Carmen
at that theater. In 1909 he made his début at the Metropolitan in
Werther
and appeared in the only performances there of
Fra Diavolo.
With the Boston Opera Company in 1912 he sang his first Hoffmann, a
performance reputedly ideal in its mixture of masculinity and dreaminess, with
finely shaded singing. His Don José also developed into a masterly
portrayal. He returned to France to fight in World War I and was wounded. Later
he devoted himself to teaching, but gave a memorable last recital at the age of
60 in Paris. His recordings are models of their kind, with slim, clearly
defined tone, a polished style and unostentatious personal charm.
(from J. B. Steane)
The 1925 Victor catalog observes:
In the records which M. Clément has made for the Victrola his beautifully schooled voice, graceful style and perfect diction are shown to fine effect. They have that exquisite finish characteristic, it would seem, of everything which is touched by French art. His records have served for models of singing in that subtle and elusive tongue, and they have added to its store of pure musical tradition. Clément’s is a fine and engaging art, which leaves nothing untouched, and hence nothing incomplete.
