Fernand Francell

A French tenor of the Opéra-Comique who later worked in operetta and film. Born Fernand François at Gevrey-Chambertin, a cooper's son, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Jacques Isnardon and Rose Caron, and in September 1906 made his Opéra-Comique debut as Vincent in Mireille. Three months later he created Yamadori in the first Paris Madama Butterfly, and in 1907 the title role of Messager's Fortunio. After war service he turned to operetta and musical comedy, sang in Buenos Aires, played Louis XIII on film and taught at the Conservatoire. His daughter Jacqueline Francell was an operetta soprano.