One of the best italian tenors of the early 20th century Italo Cristalli was born in Piacenza. He made his opera debut in ''La Boheme'' in Torino in the year 1900. He studied at the Musical High School of Piacenza with Tito Piroli and he studied in Florence with the singer-composer Corrado Pavesi Negri. Cristalli enjoyed a substantial international career for many years. He was successful as a verismo singer, with a distinct sense of style, clarity and command in his voice. He was one of the few Italian singers who had a voice for the works of Wagner. He performed throughout Italy and in 1911 he joined Pietro Mascagni for a series of concerts in South America. He came to the United States and sang with the Metropolitan Opera of New York from 1913 to 1914. During his year with the Met, Cristalli was one of the few tenors who had the honour of singing with the great conductor Toscanini, the other tenors being Enrico Caruso and Giovanni Martinelli. He sang tenor in an opening act before Caruso on several nights, including his last performance with the Met in Atlanta, Georgia on May 2, 1914. By the mid-1920s Cristalli returned to his home town of Piacenza and only gave performances in smaller, out-of-the-way locations. He died at the early age of 52.
www.frankmerriman.blogspot.com
www.frankmerriman.blogspot.com
Chronology of some appearances
1898 Milano Teatro Lirico Boheme (Rodolfo) (Leoncavallo)
1904 Firenze Teatro Verdi Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)
1906 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Amica (Giorgio)
1907 Roma Teatro Costanzi Carmen (Don Jose)
1909 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Dannazione di Faust (Faust)
1910 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Rodolfo) (Pucini)
1911 Buenos Ayres Teatro Coliseo Boheme (Rodolfo) (Pucini)
1911 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Boheme (Rodolfo) (Pucini)
1911 Montevideo Teatro Solis Boheme (Rodolfo) (Pucini)
1911 Buenos Ayres Teatro Coliseo Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1911 Rosario di Santa Fè Teatro dell'Opera Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1911 Montevideo Teatro Solis Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1911 San Paulo Politeama Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1911 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1911 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1913 New York Teatro Metropolitan Boheme (Rodolfo) (Pucini)
1913 New York Teatro Metropolitan Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1913 New York Teatro Metropolitan Don Pasquale (Ernesto)
1916 Torino Politeama Chiarella Don Pasquale (Ernesto)
1916 Parma Politeama Reinach Don Pasquale (Ernesto)
1919 Firenze Teatro Verdi Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1921 Novara Teatro Coccia Don Pasquale (Ernesto)
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Columbia, Milano 1914?
Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Come gentil D 4607 42889
Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Sogno soave e casto D4607 42341
Edison
Lohengrin (Wagner) Da voi lontan Unpubl. 429
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Tu qui, Santuzza?...Bada Santuzza with Luisa Garibaldi Unpubl. 413-A
MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you for sharing this valuable biographical information.
ReplyDelete