He travelled to Egypt with his parents where he sang in cafés to favorable response. He was then sent to Paris to study tailoring, but instead sang in Left Bank cafés. In 1914, he returned to Egypt and earned his living by again singing in the cafés. He took up operetta, soon becoming a matinee idol, then in 1919 went to Milan to pursue an opera career. His operatic debut was in 1921 at the Teatro Dal Verme in Puccini's Manon Lescaut. With the help of Italian conductor Giuseppe Bamboschek, he joined the touring Scotti Opera Company in the United States, and was soon noticed by the Metropolitan Opera where he debuted in 1923. For many years he performed there and at many other opera houses in the US and Europe. He was proficient in numerous languages.
Chronology of some appearances
1921 Milan Teatro Dal Verme Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1926 Philadelphia Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1927 Philadelphia Academy of Music Carmen (Don Jose)
1928 Philadelphia Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1928 San Francisco Civic Auditorium Carmen (Don Jose)
1929 Philadelphia Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1932 Philadelphia Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1935 Philadelphia Academy of Music Carmen (Don Jose)
1935 Chicago Civic Opera House Carmen (Don Jose)
1936 Chicago Civic Opera House Boheme (Rodolfo)
1936 Chicago Civic Opera House Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1936 New York Teatro Metropolitan Carmen (Don Jose)
1938 Chicago Civic Opera House Carmen (Don Jose)
1939 Chicago Civic Opera House Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1939 Chicago Civic Opera House Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1940 Philadelphia Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere with Rosa Raisa A 0201
Faust (Gounod): Salut demeure chaste et pure 60056
Manon (Massenet): Ah fuyez, douce image 70008
Carmen (Bizet): Il fior che avevi a me tu dato 70041
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar 70006
Tarantella sincera (de Crescenzo) 70006 11500
Tarantella sincera (de Crescenzo) 70006 11500
MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you my Friend for sharing this Valuable Biographical information.
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ReplyDeleteDear friend tell me which kind of person he was?
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