Eugène de Creus - Loin de son amie (La Juive)

Eugène de Creus (1880-1952) was a French lyric tenor whose lengthy career was mainly confined to the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Born Eugène Émile Mahieu in Lille, he began his working life as a soldier, playing in the Regimental Band of the 28th Infantry. Although the evidence of his recordings reveals that de Creus was an accomplished musician with a well defined technique, nothing much is known of his vocal studies or musical education. It is known that by the time he reached his early 20s, the young tenor was making concert and recital appearances around Paris under the name Eugène Mahieu de Creus. In the fall of 1904, he was singing with a small touring company based in Valence. De Creus made his first stage appearance on October 15 of that same year as Duc della Volta in Offenbach’s comic opera La Fille du Tambour-major in Annonay. Local critics praised the tenor for his sweet voice and fine acting. Although he spent most of the season singing operettas such as Audran’s Gillette de