He studied with Varvaro in Barcelona and probably made his debut there in 1896. In 1899 and 1901 he performed at the Teatro Politeama in Buenos Aires. After he had excited the first sensation in Italy and France, in 1901 he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York where he made his debut in Verdi’s ‘’Aida’’. Since 1903 he appeared with success at La Scala in Milan, at the Teatro Regio in Parma and in other Italian theatres. In 1905 he appeared at the opera theatre of Havana, in 1907 at the opera house of Boston and in 1908 at the Manhattan Opera House in New York. At the MET he sang also in the premieres of the operas ‘’La Fanciulla del West’’ (10. 12. 1910), ‘’Gianni Schicchi’’ (14. 12. 1918), ‘’Madeleine’’ of Victor Herbert (24. 1. 1914), ‘’Madame Sans-Gêne’’ of Giordano (25. 1. 1915) as well as in 1912 in the American première of E. Wolf-Ferrari’s ‘’Le donne curiose’’, in 1913 in ‘’Boris Godunov’’ (as Warlaam), in 1918 in the American première of Mascagni’s ‘’Lodoletta’’ and in 1917 in ‘’Marouf’’ of Henri Rabaud. In 1913 he guested in Parma appearing at the Teatro Regio in Verdi’s operas. In 1910 he sang at the Grand Opéra in Paris as Mephistofele in Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’, in 1931 in San Francisco Opera as Sharpless in ‘’Madame Butterfly’’. In 1931 he sang unexpectedly in the USA some baritone parts (Marcello in ‘’La Bohème’’, Sharpless in ‘’Madame Butterfly’’). In the same 1931 he sat down as a pedagogue in Hollywood. He performed in America also as an actor appearing together with Grace Moore in ‘’One night of love’’.
Chronology of some appearances
1899 Montevideo Teatro Solis Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Basilio)
1899 Buenos Ayres Politeama Argentino Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Basilio)
1900 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Basilio)
1902 Madrid Teatro Reale Boheme (Colline)
1903 Madrid Teatro Reale Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Basilio)
1903 Barcellona Teatro Tivoli Boheme (Colline)
1903 Barcellona Teatro Novedades Boheme (Colline)
1905 Buenos Ayres Politeama Argentino Boheme (Colline)
1906 New Orleans Opera Carmen (Escamilio)
1913 Parma Teatro Regio Ballo in Maschera (Samuel)
1914 New York Teatro Metropolitan Ballo in Maschera (Samuel)
1916 New York Teatro Metropolitan Ballo in Maschera (Samuel)
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
G&T, Barcelona 1902 (late)
Bohème (Puccini): Vecchia zimarra 52639 7227F
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Duetto Valentina-Marcello, pt 1 with Isabel Grassot 54030 7232F
Faust (Gounod): Terceto final with Jose Maristany and Giuseppina Huguet 54019 7256F
Mignon (Thomas): Leggiadre rondinelle with Huguet 54018 7257F
Mignon (Thomas): Leggiadre rondinelle with Huguet 54018 7257F
G&T, Milano 1906-10
Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): Vieni la mia vendetta 2-52583 9077b
Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): Vieni la mia vendetta 2-52583 9077b
Sonnambula (Bellini): Vi ravviso 2-52584 9078b
Norma (Bellini): Deh non volerli vittime with Luigi Colazza and Celestina Boninsegna 054097 789c
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): La calunnia 052152 796c
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): La calunnia 052152 796c
Ugonotti (Meyerbeer): Nella notte with Maria Grisi 52518 9064b
Favorita (Donizetti): Splendon piu belle in ciel le stelle 16551 9073b
G&T, Milano 1907
Puritani (Bellini): Piangi, o figlia with Maria Galvany 54370 10852b
Sonnambula (Bellini): Oh ciel! Che tento? with Maria Galvany 54371 10901b
Ugonotti (Meyerbeer): Cinta di fior 2-52635 10904b
Sonnambula (Bellini): Suoni la tromba with Titta Ruffo 54360 10906B
Robert le diable (Meyerbeer) Evocazione 2-52633 10918½b
Victor, USA 1907
Robert le diable (Meyerbeer) Evocazione 2-52633 10918½b
Victor, USA 1907
Puritani (Bellini): Sorgea la notte 55007
Gramophone, Milano 1909-05-11
Aida (Verdi): Nume custode e vindice with Antonio Paoli 054262 18441/2c
Aida (Verdi): Nume custode e vindice with Antonio Paoli 054262 18441/2c
Victor, 1914-04-03
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): La rivedro nell'estasi with Enrico Caruso, Frieda Hempel and Leon Rothier 89077 C14659-2
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): E scherzo od e follia with with Enrico Caruso, Frieda Hempel, Leon Rothier and Duchene 89076 C14660-1
Victor, 1915-04-16
La Revoltosa (Chapi): Por que de mis ojos with Lucrezia Bori 88526 C15902-1
El Punao de Rosas (Chapi): Romanza with Lucrezia Bori 87225 B15903-1
Thank you for posting this in full lenght! I like this singer very much, too. And Maria Galvany is always a "big show"!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your comment Emilio especially Galvany was one of the best sopranos of all time
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this Very interesting article. Thank you also for your Great Collection you have! I really love your Rare Collections from FORGOTTEN OPERA SINGERS. Thank you and More Power, More Blessing ! and Have a Beautiful week. *GOD BLESS*
ReplyDeleteFaust: Terceto final with Jose Maristany and Giuseppina Huguet G&T 54019 7256F
ReplyDeleteWHERE YEAR IT WAS RECORDED THIS DISC ?
THANKS
Hello. It was recorded in 1902 at Barcelona.
DeleteAll the best
Ashot
very thanks !!!
DeleteThank you too dear friend
Delete