Florica Cristoforeanu (Mezzo-Soprano) (Rimnicul Sarat 1887 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1960)

                                                               Tosca

She studied the piano, and later singing, in Bucharest and Milan (at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory, with Vanerë Filippi and Bodrilla), making her debut as Lucia at Capodistria in 1908. After touring widely in western Europe she returned to Bucharest for performances in operetta (1910–13). Growing international fame led to her appearances at opera houses throughout Europe, notably at Barcelona, and also at the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires. She made her debut as Santuzza at La Scala, where she also appeared from 1928 to1932 as Salome under Richard Strauss, as Mariola in the premiere of Ildebrando Pizzetti's Fra Gherardo (1928), and as Carmen and Charlotte (Werther). By the time she retired she had mastered a repertory of more than 90 roles, embracing mezzo, dramatic, lyric and coloratura parts in opera and operetta. In Bucharest her Cio-Cio-San, Minnie (La fanciulla del West), Kundry and Adriana Lecouvreur were especially admired. Her range, both vocal and dramatic, was exceptional, enhanced by a richly coloured timbre and an intense commitment to all her roles. After her death her memoirs Amintiri din cariera mea lirica were published (Bucharest, 1964).

Chronology of some appearances

1922 Roma  Teatro Adriano Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1922 Milano  Teatro Dal Verme Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1922 Gorizia  Teatro Sociale  Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1923 La Spezia  Politeama Duca di Genova Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1925 Montecatini  Kursaal Boheme (Mimi)
1925 Montecatini  Kursaal Carmen (Carmen)
1925 Milano  Teatro Carcano Carmen (Carmen)
1925 Bucarest  Teatro Nazionale  Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1926 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Carmen (Carmen)
1926   Milano  Teatro Dal Verme Fanciulla del West (Minnie)
1927 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Boheme (Mimi)
1927 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Carmen (Carmen)
1927 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1927 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Mimi)
1927 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1927 Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Brescia  Teatro Grande Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Venezia  Teatro Rossini Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Milano  Teatro La Scala Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Torino  Teatro Regio Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Modena  Teatro Storchi Carmen (Carmen)
1930 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Carmen (Carmen)
1930 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Fanciulla del West (Minnie)
1930 Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1930 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Carmen (Carmen)
1930 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1931 Trieste  Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1931 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1932 Parma  Teatro Regio Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1932 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1932 Pistoia  Teatro all'Aperto Boheme (Mimi)
1932 Pistoia  Teatro all'Aperto Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1934 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1934 Ascoli Piceno  Teatro Ventidio Basso Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1936 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonotipia, Milano 1930-10-30

Carmen (Bizet): Sei tu? Son io with Ermanno Pezzutti 172148  xxPh 6634

Carmen (Bizet): Ebben io t'amo ancora with Ermanno Pezzutti 172147 xxPh 6635

Carmen (Bizet): No, tu non m'ami with Ermanno Pezzutti 172147, xxPh 6635

Parlophon

Fedora (Giordano): Vedi io piango with Ferdinando Ciniselli P. 56533 2-84537/8
Fedora (Giordano): Addio, addio a domani with Ferdinando Ciniselli P. 56533 2-84538
Favorita (Donizetti): O mio Fernado B 27814 119577–3 

Odeon Fonotipia
Manon (Massenet): Oui, je fus cruelle et coupable with Giovanni Malipiero N24001 xxPh 6676

Manon (Massenet): N'est-ce plus ma main? with Giovanni Malipiero N24001 xxPh 6677


Odeon  Fonotipia
Carmen (Bizet): Card song  S-1511
Carmen (Bizet): Séguidille S-1511