Luis Almodovar (Baritone) (Aspe (Alicante/Spagna 1888 - Milano 1961)

His complete name was Luis Almodovar Navarro. He studied at the Real Conservatory of Madrid and made his debut at the Teatro Gaffurio in Lodi in ‘’Andrea Chenier’’. In 1916 he appeared at the Teatro Real, Madrid in Bizet’s ‘’I Pescatori di Perle’’ with Giuseppe Anselmi. At the same theatre he sang also in ‘’Otello’’ and ‘’Rigoletto’’ with triumph. Then he moved to Milan, to perfect his style and to learn Italian repertoire. Attracted by his voice, Pietro Mascagni engaged him to sing in ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’ at the Teatro Lirico, Milan. In 1917 he appeared at Teatro Carcano, Milan in ‘’La Gioconda’’. At the Teatro Costanzi, Rome he sang with Alessandro Bonci in ‘’Un Ballo in Maschera’’. He sang also with Beniamino Gigli in ‘’Lodoletta’’. At the Teatro Communale, Cesena he appeared ‘’Lodoletta’’ with Toti Dal Monte. In 1919 Almodovar performed with great success in different Italian cities (Milan, Rome, Brescia, Genoa, Palermo). Probably in 1927 he decided to change his repertoire and begin to sing in Zarzuelas making his debut in this genre at the Teatro Tivoli, Barcelona in ‘’Por una mujer’’ of Juan Bautista Lambert. He sang with great success both in different Spanish and Latin-American cities. As the first baritone, he integrated into the «Compania Lirica Nacional», which was acting at the Teatro de la Zarzuela and also in provinces. During the 1930s his career developed principally in Spain.

Chronology of some appearances

1914 Lodi Teatro Gaffurio Andrea Chenier (Gerard)
1916 Madrid Teatro Reale Pescatori di Perle (Zurga)
1918 Genova Politeama Genovese Pagliacci (Tonio)
1920 Genova Politeama Genovese Andrea Chenier (Gerard)
1922 Genova Politeama Genovese Germania (Worms)
1924 Pesaro Teatro Rossini Rigoletto (Rigoletto)
1926 Valencia Plaza de Toros Pagliacci (Tonio)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Parlophon
El romeral (Diaz Giles/Muro): Romanza  B 25810-II 76766
Las Golondrinas (Martínez Sierra): Se reía  B 25810-I 76779
Los Gavilanes (Guerrero): Milonga  B 25811-II 76764
Los Gavilanes (Guerrero): Salida B 25811-I 76765

Odeon
Las Golondrinas ( Usandizaga): Serenata 57009      
La Del Panuelo Rojo (Tabuyo)
Mi Nina (Guetary): Habanera 56999
Los ojos negros (Alvarez) 57006
La tempestad (Chapi): Monólogo 1ª parte 57000
La tempestad (Chapi): Monólogo 2ª parte 57001
Barcarola (Nieto) 57005
La Partida (Alvzrez): 57003
Plegaria (Alvarez) 56994
Veneciana canción (Nieto) 57004
Maruxa (Vives): Dúo Pablo y Maruxa 1ª parte with Carmen Domingo XX 99956
Maruxa (Vives): Dúo Pablo y Maruxa with Carmen Domingo  2ª parte XX 99957

Disco Gramofono
Martierra (Guerrero): Duo de la guitarra y el acordeon with Tino Folgar 2-264197 BJ1534
Martierra (Guerrero): Cuarteto with Tino Folgar, Dorini and  Flora Pereira 2-264198 BJ153
Martierra (Guerrero): Duo de Santa y Jose with Dorini 2-264199 BJ1547  
Martierra (Guerrero): Gananadas with Dorini 2-264200 BJ1548
Guzlares (Morato): Raconto de Alejandro with Maria Badia AE2413