Luigi Borgonovo (Baritone) (Milano, Italia 1899 – Roma, Italia 1975)

He came from a poor family. Studied singing under the pedagogues Gennai and Bettinelli in Milan. He made his debut in 1925. The same year, as baritone, he appeared at The Gran Teatro de La Habana. In 1927 he undertook with the Bracala Opera Company a Central America tour. In 1928 he had at the Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo a huge success in ''Cavalleria Rusticana''. In 1932 he made guest appearance at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in ‘’La Bohème’’. In 1933 at La Scala he sang in the première of Z. Kodály's opera ''Székelyfonó''. In 1937 he appeared at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna as Marcello and as Ford in ''Falstaff''. In 1943 during the festival of the Maggio Musicale in Florence he took part of Ford in ''Falstaff''. In 1941 at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma he appeared as Tebaldo in ''Giulietta e Romeo''. Before the Second World War probably he sang in Barcelona, Madrid and Cairo and undertook several South America tours. After end of the war he continued his career in Italy and gave among other things a guest performance at the Opera in Antwerp (?). Later he worked as vocal pedagogue at the Opera School of the La Scalam where both famous tenors Franco Corelli and Luciano Pavarotti belonged to his pupils.  

Chronology of some appearances

1928 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Cavalleria Rusitcana (Alfio)
1932 Monte-Carlo Opéra La Boheme (Marcello)
1933 Milan La Scala Székelyfonó (Pretendente)
1937 Bologna Teatro Comunale  La Boheme (Marcello)
1941 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Giulietta e Romeo (Tebaldo)
1943 Firenze Maggio Musicale Falstaff (Ford)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

HMV, Milano 1934-07?
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Addio fiorito asil with Giacomo Lauri-Volpi DA1385 30-12175
Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Ah! Non v'avvicinate with Giacomo Lauri-Volpi DA1385 30-12176