Armando Borgioli (Baritone) (Firenze, Italia 1898 – Codogno presso Modena, Italia 1945)

He began his career in 1923. In 1925 he sang with great success at the Teatro Carcano in Milanthe part of Amonasro in G. Verdi’s ‘’Aida’’. In 1926 he appeared at the Opera in Catania and at Arena di Verona in ‘’Il Trovatore’’. In 1927 he was engaged by the La Scala in Milan (beginning role: Alfio in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’), where he took part in 1928 in the premiere of the opera ‘’La Maddalena’’ by V. Michetti. Till 1944 he appeared at La Scala in Milan , also sang at the other leading operatic stages of the Italian province. In  the 1931-1935 seasons he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His debut there occurred in 1932 as Don Carlo in ‘’La Forza del destino’’. The other parts which he took over at the Metropolitan Opera were the Count di Luna in ‘’Trovatore’’, Amonasro in ‘’Aida’’, Enrico in ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’, Barnaba in A. Ponchielli’s ‘’La Gioconda’’, Gérard in ‘’Andrea Chénier’’ of U. Giordano, Nelusco in ‘’L'Africaine’’ of G. Meyerbeer and Tonio in ‘’Pagliacci’’. He had a huge success in South America, particularly at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and at the Opera of Rio de Janeiro, where he appeared in the 1936-1937 season, as well as from 1940 to 1941. In 1927 he made guest appearance at Covent Garden inLondon, performing in  ‘’Il Trovatore’’. In 1928 he sang there in P. Mascagni’s ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’ and G. Verdi’s ‘’Aida’’. In 1933 he again appeared there, this time in ‘’Aida’’ and ‘’La Bohème’’. In 1937 he sang the part of  an Orest in ‘’ Iphigénie en Tauride’’. He appeared at the Arena di Verona in ‘’Rigoletto’’ (1928), ‘’L’Africana’’ (1932), ‘’Il Trovatore  (1933), ‘’La Gioconda’’ (1934), ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’ and ‘’Tannhäuser’’ (1938). In  at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genua he appeared in ‘’Loreley’’ (1930), ‘’Il Tabarro’’ ( 1939), ‘’Andrea Chénier’’ and in ‘’Vespri Siciliani’’. At the Teatro Comunale in Bologna he took part in ‘’Lohengrin’’ (1926), ‘’Il Trovatore’’, ‘’La Wally’’ (1931), ‘’Aida’’ (1936), ‘’Simon Boccanegra’’ (1938), ‘’Tannhäuser’’ and in ‘’Rigoletto’’ (1939). At the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino he appeared in ‘’Ballo in maschera’’ (1935) and ‘’Il Trovatore’’ (1939). He was killed in an air raid whilst travelling from Milan to Bologna by train.

Chronology of some appearances

1925 Milano Teatro Carcano Aida (Amonasro)
1926 Verona Arena Il Trovatore (Count di Luna)
1927 Milan La Scala Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)
1931 New York Metropolitan Opera La Forza del destino (Don Carlo)

1927 London Covent Garden Il Trovatore (Count di Luna)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1928-11-14/20

Complete Aida (Verdi): with Aroldo Lindi, Giannina Arangi-Lombardi, Maria Capuana and Tancredi Pasero