Italo Cristalli (Tenor) (Castel San Giovanni, Piacenza 1879 - Castel San Giovanni, Piacenza 1932)

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. 

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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