Oreste Benedetti (Baritone) (Pisa, Italia 1872 - Novara, Italia 1917)

First he worked in a ceramic factory in Pisa. The father of the famous baritone Titta Ruffo, Natale Titta, exerted himself for the education of the gifted young worker and provided for him the admission in the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Oreste Benedetti remained friendly linked during his whole career with Titta Ruffo and his family. He made his debut as comprimario at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna (1892). His real debut in 1894 was as Count di Luna in ‘’Il Trovatore’’ at the Teatro Quirino in Rome. Then he appeared with great success at the Teatro Regio in Rovigo, at the Teatro Manzoni in Rome and at the Teatro Municipale in Reggio Emilia. In 1897 he made guest appearances at the Opera in Buenos Aires. In 1898 at the Teatro Costanzi in Romehe took part in C. Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’. In 1899 he performed at the Teatro Regio in Parma in L. Perosi's oratorio ‘’La risurrezione di Lazzaro’’. During the following years he had a successful career at the leading Italian opera houses: At the Teatro Regio in Parma (1900), at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna (1908-09), at the Teatro Comunale in Treviso (1908), at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari (1906). In 1914 he appeared agan at the Teatro Politeama of his hometown Pisa. For the last time he sang the part of Rigoletto at the Teatro San Carlo in Napoli (1915). His career was interrupted by a heavy illness, breaking out over and over again three times and was finished, in the end, by an untimely death at the age of 45.

Chronology of some appearances

1892 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Flora MacDonald di J. Urich (Sullivan)

1894 Roma Teatro Quirino Trovatore (Conte)

1896 Reggio Emilia Teatro Municipale Africana (Nelusko)

1898 Roma Teatro Costanzi Faust (Valentino)

1901 Firenze Arena Nazionale Traviata (Germont)

1903 Teodossia Teatro Nazionale Carmen (Escamillo)

1905 Alessandria d'Egitto Teatro Alhambra     Boheme (Marcello)

1907 Torino Teatro Regio Aida (Amonasro)

1909 Torino Teatro Regio Gioconda (Barnaba)

1911 Cairo Teatro Khediviale Rhea di S. Samara (Guerca)

1914 Firenze Teatro Verdi Rigoletto (Rigoletto)
1915 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Edison 4-min cylinders, New York? 1910?
Bohème (Puccini): Ah Mimì, tu più with Aristodemo Giorgini 35017

Edison, London 1911

Ballo in Maschera (Verdi): Alzati, là tuo figlio … Eri tu, che macchiavi Unpubl. 754-A
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Così mantieni il patto with Paola Koralek 760-A