Cuenod, Hugues (-Adhémar)

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Cuenod, Hugues (-Adhémar) (b Corseaux-sur-Vevey, 1902). Swiss tenor. Taught at Geneva Cons. then began concert career, later entering opera. Début Paris 1928 in Fr. première of Krenek's Jonny spielt auf. Sang in Geneva 1930–3, Paris 1934–7. Prof. of singing, Geneva Cons., 1940–6. Specialized in character roles, creating Sellem in The Rake's Progress, Venice 1951. CG début 1954 as Astrologer in Rimsky-Korsakov's The Golden Cockerel. Glyndebourne début 1954 as Sellem, the first of over 470 perfs. in many roles there, memorably as Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro. Sang Don Curzio in Figaro in Glyndebourne's 50th anniversary season, 1984, made NY Met début 1987 as Emperor in Turandot, and sang Monsieur Taupe in Capriccio at Glyndebourne 1987 and Geneva 1989.