RIP Robert Massard, celebrated French baritone, aged 100
MusicWeb sadly commemorates the death of Robert Massard, Officier de la Légion d’honneur and Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in the Ehpad Nouste-Soureilh retirement home on 26 December 2025, following a fall and operation last October. His last public appearance was on 14 September at the Saint-Louis theatre in his hometown of Pau, where he was presented with city’s Médaille d’Or by the mayor, a few days after a concert given in his honour.
Along with his compatriot Gabriel Bacquier he was the foremost French baritone of his era, renowned for the clarity of his diction, elegance of phrasing, and stylistic authority, especially in French repertoire. Following his retirement in the early 80s, he taught and mentored singers, and acted as a juror in singing competitions, one of which was named after him: the Concours International de Chant Robert Massard in Bordeaux.
Born on the Assumption, 15 August 1925, and deceased on St Stephen’s day, Robert was in 1952 engaged on the strength and beauty of his voice by the Paris Opéra-Comique despite being untrained and unable to read music. He worked diligently to overcome these obstacles and largely self-trained, soon rose to international prominence.
My wife and I were privileged to become his friends in the latter years of his life, visiting him in order to take trips to Lourdes, Biarritz and his beloved Pyrenees. A humble, humorous man, he was a great mimic and raconteur; he took his art, but not himself, seriously, nonetheless delighting in being recognised in restaurants and chatting with his many admirers, exuding a joie de vivre which belied his advanced age. I last spoke to him on the phone shortly before Christmas when he intimated that he did not think much time was left to him.
I refer you to my reminiscences following one of our visits (Visiting Robert Massard) which give a fuller account of his life and achievements and also my three articles surveying his recorded legacy (Part I; Part II; Part III). He was a great artist and loveable human being.
Ralph Moore
