Greatest Opera Singers

Greatest Opera Singers

Monday, May 14, 2012

Francisco Viñas ( Vignas) (Tenor) (Barcelona 1866 – Barcelona 1933)






First he studied at the Conservatory of Barcelona with Gonzalo Tintorer, then with Goula. He made his debut in 1888 at Mataro. In the same year he made his debut at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona as Lohengrin with great success. In 1889 Viñas already appeared at La Scala in Milan again as Lohengrin with triumph. In the following years he performed in the principal Italian theaters like Teatro Regio in Turin and Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa addiding to his repertoire ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’, ‘’Mefistofele’’ and ’’Africana’’. In 1893 Viñas made his debut at Covent Garden in London. The next year he made his debut at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 1895 he appeared for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In the same year he went to Genoa to substitute the tenor Giovanni Battista De Negri in ‘’Tannhauser’’. In 1897 he was in Rome, where he sang at the Teatro Costanzi. In 1904 Viñas appeared at La Scala in A. Franchetti’s ‘’Germania’’. In 1908 he guested at the Teatro San Carlo in Lisbon, where he sang in ‘’Tristan e Isolda’’. In 1913 together with Margot Kaftal, Cesare Formichi and Vincenzo Bettoni, he sang the role of  Parsifal at the Teatro Liceo of Barcelona. In 1916 he returned to the Teatro Liceo of Barcelona to appear in ‘’Tannhäuser’’. In 1918 he sang fot the last time on the opera stage  (Teatro Liceo, Barcelona) in J. Manen’s opera ‘’Acte’’. Viñas married Giulia Novelli, a mezzo-soprano with whom he had sung ‘’Carmen’’ in Palermo in 1892. Viñas was the Turiddu in the first performance of Cavalleria Rusticana in Eng-land (1893). He had a powerful heroic tenor voice and was thought to be the successor to the superb Spanish tenor Julián Gayarre.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Vi%C3%B1as

Chronology of some appearances

1889 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Lohengrin (Lohengrin)
1890 Torino Teatro Regio Lohengrin (Lohengrin)
1891 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1892 Palermo  Politeama Carmen (Don Jose)
1892 Catania  Teatro Bellini Mefistofele (Faust)
1896 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Carmen (Don Jose)
1903 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1903 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Germania (Federico)
1903 Pistoia  Teatro Manzoni Germania (Federico)
1904 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Germania (Federico)
1905 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Gioconda (Enzo)
1906 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlo Carmen (Don Jose)
1906 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Gioconda (Enzo)
1907 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1910 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Don Carlo (Carlo)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE     

 







G&T, Milano 1903-10?
Germania (Franchetti): Studenti udite 52735 Con133R
Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 052007 Con520R
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Dall'alba tinto (72) 052008 Con521R
Walkure (Wagner): Canto della primavera 052013 Con522R
Lohengrin (Wagner): Addio a Elsa 052005 Con527R
Lohengrin (Wagner): Ben altra prova 052001 Con529R
Lohengrin (Wagner): Racconto del Graal 052002 Con531R
Africaine (Meyerbeer): O paradiso 052004 Con532R

Fonotipia, Milano 1905-02
Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 39136 XPh161
Donna Clara (Gastaldon) 39137 XPh163
Mi Nina (Guetary) 39122 XPh164
La Partida (Mandeno) 39123 XPh165
Africaine (Meyerbeer): O paradiso 39134 XPh170
Se ti dicessi (Stornello) (Amadei) (81) 39135 XPh181
Lorenza (Mascheroni): E tu mia giovinezza 39131 XPh182

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-09-27
A Granada (Alvarez) 39814 XPh2069

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-09-28
Lohengrin (Wagner): Di non t'incantan 39853 XPh2080
Un pleito (Gaztambide) 39813 XPh2082

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-09-29
Maria (Guetary) 39794 XPh2091
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Dall'alba tinto 74020 XXPh2092
Lohengrin (Wagner): Da voi lontano (Racconto del Graal) 74019 XXPh2093

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-10-01
La Partida (Mandeno) 39123 XPh2100
Mi Nina (Guetary) 39122 XPh2101
Prophete (Meyerbeer): Sopra Berta 39805 XPh2102

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-10-02
Lohengrin (Wagner): Cigno gentil 39806 XPh2104

Fonotipia, Milano 1907-05-13
Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): Di pescator ignobile 39854 XPh2643
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Ma se m'e forza 62083 XPh2644
Otello (Verdi): Ora e per sempre 62082 XPh2645
Lili (Guetary) 62084 XPh2646
Carmen (Bizet): Romanza del fiore 62085 XPh2650

Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-10
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Nel verno al pie 92338 XPh3616
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Dall'alba tinto 92339 XPh3617

Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-11
Lohengrin (Wagner): Di, non t'incantan 92340 XPh3618
Lohengrin (Wagner): Prova maggior 92341 XPh3619
Lohengrin (Wagner): Da voi lontan 74124 XXPh3620
Lohengrin (Wagner): Cigno fedel 92342 XPh3622
Lohengrin (Wagner): Sei torna alfin 92343 XPh3623
Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 92344 XPh3624

Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-12
Africaine (Meyerbeer): O paradiso 92345 XPh3626
Walkure (Wagner): Canto della primavera 92351 XPh3627
Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-13
Prophete (Meyerbeer): Sopra Berta 92349 XPh3630
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar 92348 XPh3631
Germania (Franchetti): Studenti udite! 92346 XPh3632

Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-14
Aida (Verdi): Pur ti riveggo (w. Mazzoleni) 74117 XXPh3637
Aida (Verdi): Fuggiam gli ardori (w. Mazzoleni) 74118 XXPh3638
Otello (Verdi): Ora e per sempre addio 92350 XPh3639
Carmen (Bizet): Romanza del fiore 92947 XPh3640
Germania (Franchetti): No non chiuder 92347 XPh3641

Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-16
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Dall'alba tinto 74123 XXPh3646

Fonotipia, Barcelona 1911-09
Mefistofele (Boito): Giunto sul passo estremo 92878 XPh4760
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar 92948 XPh4764
Mefistofele (Boito): Dai campi 92877 XPh4765
Tannhauser (Wagner): Inno a Venere 92897 XPh4766
Tannhauser (Wagner): Col cor contrito 92898 XPh4767
Tannhauser (Wagner): A Roma quindi 92899 XPh4768
Tannhauser (Wagner): Gustato hai tu 92900 XPh4769

Fonotipia, Barcelona? 1912-10-03
In riva al mare (Filiasi) ("dedicated to the celebrated artist by composer") 69123 XPh4900
 O Primavera (Tirindelli) 69122 XPh4901
Rienzi (Wagner): O Padre Santo 69093 XPh4902
Rienzi (Wagner): O Dio non cessi 69094 XPh4903
Parsifal (Wagner): Colа m'appar il calice unpubl 69088 XPh4904
Parsifal (Wagner): Si, questa voce tal gli suono 69089 XPh4905
Tannhauser (Wagner): Lodar tu devi il Dio (w. Alessandrovich) 69096 XPh4906
Tannhauser (Wagner): Preghiera 69095 XPh4907
Parsifal (Wagner): Si, salvo e assolto 69090 XPh4908
Parsifal (Wagner): Amfortas! 69087 XPh4909
Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): Su noi discendi (w. Alessandrovich) 69097 XPh4910
Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): Celasi il sol (w. Alessandrovich) 69098 XPh4912
Africaine (Meyerbeer): O Paradiso 69121 XPh4913
El Lucero del Alba (Caballero) 69127 XPh4914
Ensaijo de Lios (Coto) 69128 XPh4915
Los ojos negros (Alvarez) 69129 XPh4916
El Milagro de la Virgen (Chapi y Pina Dominguez): Aria 69130 XPh4917
Serenata (Mascagni) 69124 XPh4918
Il Franco Cacciatore (Weber): No, piu soffrir 69125 XPh4919


Jeanne Jomelli (Soprano)




MME. JOMELLI GIVES A FEATS OF SONG

Second Concert of Splendid Soprano From Hammerstein's
Announced for Today


Mme Jomelli, the splendid soprano from Oscar Hammerstein's New York forces, will give her second concert in this city today at the Novelty theater, and it should be attended by a throng. Last Thursday night at the Novelty theater, when the singer made her first bow, there was a very select audience, and very appreciative. It.was made of the right material, but there wasn't enough material.. Comment on this deplorable fact has been made by the writer with the full knowledge that you can not scold people into going to concerts or other attractions. This may be taken as a warning, to those who appreciate beautiful singing that a feast is being neglected when you miss Jomelli's mature yet fresh and sparkling art. An interesting program has been arranged for this afternoon. Mme Jomelli will sing an aria from Puccini's "La Tosca," which, if one may judge by her rendition last Friday night of the Massenet aria from "Thais," should be a superlative bit of dramatic song; Bemberg's "Chant de Bacchante"; Richard Strauss' "Heimliche" Aufferderung", "The Wind," by Spross; Hugo Wolf’s "In dem Schatten meiner Locken;" "Chanson de Neige," by Chaminade; and Carl Loewe's mighty ballad. "Niemand hat's gesh'n." Mme. Jomelli will close her program wlth a work by a modern French composer, Leroux, "The Nile." with violin obligato. Miss Nichols, violinist, will be heard in several selections. Frederick Maurer Jr. will accompany. At her final concert next Tuesday
night Mme. Jomelli will sing an aria from Charpentier's "Louise," and selections from Brahms, Hahn, Wolf, Schubert and other masters of song writing. Wednesday at 3:15 Mme. Jomelli and Miss Nichols will appear at the Liberty theater in Oakland.

The San Francisco Call, Sunday, November 14, 1909


RECORDING FOR SALE

 






Millophone
Traviata (Verdi): Sempre libera  33


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Augusta Concato (Soprano) (Verona 1895 - Carate Brianza 1964)




She studied in Verona with Conti Fioroni and made her debut in 1918 at the Teatro Sociale of Brescia in ‘’Forza del Destino’’. Already in 1919 she sang at the Teatro Comunale of Bologna the role of Margherita in ‘’Mefistofele’’ of Boito. Two years later she appeared there in the premiere of the opera ‘’La Leggenda di Sakuntala’’ of Alfano. In 1921 Arturo Toscanini engaged her to appear at La Scala in Milan, she made her debut in 1922 as Giorgetta in Puccini’s ‘’Il Tabarro’’. Here in 1923 she performed in the première of the above-mentioned opera ‘’La Leggenda di Sakuntala’’ of Alfano. She sang also in Rome (Teatro Costanzi 1921, ‘’Aida’’ and ‘’Manon Lescaut’’), Turin (Teatro Regio 1920, ‘’Suor Angelica’’), Parma (Teatro Regio 1920, ‘’Loreley’’), Naples (Teatro San Carlo 1927, ‘’Manon Lescaut’’). In 1924 she made guest appearances in  Australia with an opera troup of Nellie Melba. Here she sang in  ‘’Aida’’ and ‘’Madama Butterfly’’. Hercareer was marked by guest performances in Monte Carlo, Cairo, Alessandria, Barcelona, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo. She was married to the tenor Nino Piccaluga (1890-1973). She retired from the stage approximately in 1938.

Chronology of some appearances

1918 Brescia Teatro Sociale Forza del Destino (Leonora)
1919 Bologna Teatro Comunale Mefistofele (Margherita)
1920 Turin Teatro Regio Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica)
1920 Parma Teatro Regio Loreley (Loreley)
1921 Bologna Teatro Comunale La Leggenda di Sakuntala (Sakuntala)
1921 Rome Teatro Costanzi Aida (Aida)
1921 Rome Teatro Costanzi Manon Lescaut (Manon Lescaut)
1922 Milan La Scala Il Tabarro (Giorgetta)
1927 Naples Teatro San Carlo Manon Lescaut (Manon Lescaut)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE


 





Fonotipia, Milano 1928-05-21
Boheme (Puccini): Addio, dolce svegliare with Ferdinando Ciniselli, Ernesto Badini and Assunta Garguilo 120145 XXPh 6241

Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-16
Mefistofele (Boito): Quartetto di giardino, pt 1 with Ciniselli, Righetti and Castagna 120172 XXPh6376
Mefistofele (Boito): Quartetto di giardino, pt 2 with Ciniselli, Righetti and Castagna 120173 XXPh6383
Mefistofele (Boito): Quartetto di giardino, pt3 with Ciniselli, Righetti and Castagna 120173 XXPh6384

Parlophon
Manon (Massenet): Addio o nostro picol desio P56514 2-84064
Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Andrea Chenier? Son io with  Ferdinando Ciniselli P56536 2-84550
Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Ora soave with  Ferdinando Ciniselli P56536 2-84551
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Voi lo sapete o mamma 20120-a
Aida (Verdi): O terra addio with Ferdinando Ciniselli P56538 2-84555


Paola koralek (Soprano) (Budapest 1882–Viareggio 1924)





Paola Koralek, an Hungarian soprano that made her debut at Royal Theatre of Budapest in “The Queen of Saba”, was often in Italy on tour. In August 1908 she reached Pistoia, in September she was in Varese and in October in Forlì; then she treaded the boards of Vittorio Emanuele Theatre in Messina. On December, 28, together with the tenor Angelo Gamba, she sang Aida in front of an enthusiast Sicilian public. That evening, people from Messina and Reggio Calabria flocked in to enjoy a second performance besides the Opera. That Sunday, they had two reasons to be particularly euphoric: in fact, at sunset, Reggio Calabria provided a priceless show to everybody could admire it from the opposite Sicily. In one click, some roads were enlightened as if by magic by the “new light”, such as the electric light. These were two very good occasions to protract the celebrations late at night. The following Monday, at 5,20 in the morning, a three seconds telluric shock, followed by a violent seaquake, tragically woke up the two cities bringing a great number of people from sleep to death in a flash. Paola Koralek, mad with fear, threw herself out of a window of the Hotel Trinacria and received injuries to the four limbs that influenced her artistic career forever. Alas, her stage fellow Angelo Gamba was much more unluckier. He reached Messina with his family to spend the New Year’s holidays, but he was buried under the debris with all his relatives. Trapped to the neck, he couldn’t help his kin that cried louder and louder. Hearing the terrible silence that followed the last supplication of one of his relatives, Gamba died of a broken heart. Some of the rescuing assured to have heard him singing, in a whisper before dying, “O terra addio, addio valle di pianto”. It was the aria that a few hours before provided him loud applause: Radamès and Aida’s farewell to the world.

http://www.gensitalica.net/en/terremoto_inferno.php

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Savona Teatro Chiabrera Tosca (Tosca)
1904 Biella Teatro Sociale Tosca (Tosca)
1905 Modena Teatro Municipale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)
1906 Reggio Emilia Teatro Municipale Fedora (Fedora)
1907 Catania Teatro Bellini Tosca (Tosca)
1908 Pistoia Politeama Mabellini Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)
1909 Firenze Politeama Nazionale Aida (Aida)
1910 Novara Teatro Coccia Gioconda (Gioconda)
1911 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Gioconda (Gioconda)
1912 Palermo Teatro Massimo Gioconda (Gioconda)
1913 Brescia Teatro Grande Gioconda (Gioconda)
1914 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Gioconda (Gioconda)
1917 Firenze Hotel Baglioni Concerto

RECORDINGS FOR SALE


 





Pathé, Milano 1912?
Isabeau (Mascagni): Sol ultima preghiera with Giuseppe Di Bernardo 12571 86239
Germania (Franchetti): Tu non sei buono 10099 86335

 

Giannina Arangi-Lombardi (Soprano) (Marigliano presso, Napoli 1891 - Milano 1951)




At the turn of the century there was a dramatic and rather abrupt change in the style with which composers such as Verdi were sung. Gemma Bellincioni had altered the presentation of opera both in Italy and around the world with her declamatory style, epitomized by her portrayal of Cavalleria Rusticana at its World Premiere. Following her example, the great dramatic, Eugenia Burzio, went much further in imposing the veristic model upon such operas as Aida, Il Trovatore, and especially Norma and La Gioconda. Her example was to be emulated by some of the greatest Italian sopranos of the century, among them: Ester Mazzoleni, Bianca Scacciati, and Maria Caniglia. It was the way audiences wanted to hear opera and it was the rarest of the breed who would attempt to maintain a tradition of less flamboyant vocalism. The few who did were often seen as too placid, uninvolved and ultimately unexciting. They were: Celestina Boninsegna, Giannina Russ and a generation later, Giannina Arangi Lombardi. The traditions of nineteenth century vocalism were paramount to their approach, and they succeeded against the odds, though none of the three was considered the greatest in her time. This is the story of the last of that breed, Giannina Arangi Lombardi. Giannina was born on 20 June 1891 in the town of Marigliano on the outskirts of Naples and she had a very unexceptional childhood. She did however have obvious musical inclinations and in 1911, after six years of study, Giannina received a diploma in piano and voice from the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella at Naples. Degree in hand, she joined her family, who had moved to Rome, and remained at home, mostly entertaining herself at the piano. On 29 July 1912, after a whirlwind courtship, Giannina Lombardi married Lorenzo Arangi at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, after which the couple set up their home in Palermo, Renzos birthplace.  Giannina taught and gave occasional amateur recitals at Palermo's Liceo Cherubini over several years before deciding that several encouraging friends were correct about her latent vocal talents, and, in the autumn of 1919, Giannina made her professional debut as a mezzo-soprano at Palermos Circolo Geraci. She sang "Stride la vampa" from Il Trovatore. She received a very warm ovation from a very friendly audience and immediately resolved that the lyric stage was where she wished to be. After several months of formal study, Giannina debuted in opera at Rome's Teatro Costanzi on 25 September 1920 as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana and was very highly praised by the Roman critics. The season continued with performances of Afra in La Wally and Beppe in LAmico Fritz.  Her engagement in Rome ended in late November and, after returning to her home, she appeared on 9 December at Palermo's Teatro Biondo as Adalgisa to the Norma of Ester Toninello. It was a sensation and made musical headlines throughout Sicily. She appeared in three other operas: Amneris in Aida, Laura in La Gioconda and La Favorita. As soon as the season at the Biondo was concluded, she debuted at the far more important Massimo on 1 March 1921 as Samaritana in Francesca da Rimini followed by Laura in La Gioconda with Tina Poli Randaccio and Pantalis in Mefistofele.  It was a remarkable rise for the totally unknown newcomer and in four months she had appeared before the Palermo public over fifty times. After performances as Laura at Carpi and Finale Emilia, Giannina debuted at Milan's most important theater, La Scala being closed at that time, the Dal Verme. The role was Amneris and the date was 1 October. It was a headline story in the Milan newspapers and Giannina was retained for seven performances of Brangaene in Tristan and Isolde. I will note here that every source that I have lists Azucena at the Dal Verme as one of Arangi's roles, but my annals of that theater do not indicate that she sang it there, or anywhere else.  Giannina debuted at Parma's Teatro Regio on 29 December as Laura with Poli Randaccio, Minghini Cattaneo and Ismaele Voltolini to an enormous reception and in January 1922 she continued her season at Parma with Elena in Mefistofele, Adalgisa and Venus in Tannhäuser. In February she debuted at Piacenza as Laura and on 8 May she sang Brangaene at Florence. In July at Bolognas Giardini Margherita, Arangi sang Adalgisa and in October at Milan's Teatro Carcano, like many mezzos before her, she sang the role of Santuzza. It was a resounding success and it led to questions about her real vocal placement. In December she returned to her standard repertoire when she debuted at Venice's La Fenice as Brangaene. However, the seeds of doubt had been sown, and they would very soon bear fruit. She was among Italy's most admired mezzos but Giannina had proven to herself that her voice had a resonance at the top and a brightness in the middle that could only be considered that of a true soprano. Decisions had to be made and, without hesitation, she accepted an invitation to debut at Messina in the role of La Gioconda. The date was 25 January 1923, and Laura was sung by the very young debutante, Gianna Pederzini. Arangi continued her engagement at Messina with La Forza del Destino and, though others have listed the role as Preziosilla, I am persuaded from the evidence at hand that it was Leonora.  The transition was gradual, and Giannina gravitated initially to roles that have been sung by both vocal types. In March she sang in Michetti's La Grazia at Rome's Costanzi and in March she sang Santuzza for the Romans. It was very well received and intensified her determination to continue along the path she had chosen. In May she repeated Cavalleria Rusticana, this time at Messina, and after a summer break she sang in La Grazia at Pesaro under the direction of Vittorio Gui. In September at Naples' Teatro Mercadante she sang the Forza Leonora and Gioconda and in October at Palermo's Massimo she sang Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera for the first time. 1923 ended at Rome where she sang the Gran Vestale in Spontini's La Vestale with Maria Carena and Amadeo Bassi and Elena in Mefistofele with Maria Zamboni, Francesco Merli and Nazzareno De Angelis. In March 1924 she debuted at Cairo as Elizabeth in Tannhäuser and in April, at Milan's Teatro Carcano she sang Santuzza. Her first great risk came in July, when, at Riccione she sang the role of Aida for the first time. The audience was stunned at her magnificent display of tone and phrasing and she was heralded throughout Italy as a soprano of the first rank. Nevertheless, Giannina stayed with middle-placed roles for a while longer, appearing at Bologna in October as La Favorita with Giacomo Lauri-Volpi and Ezio Pinza after which, on 26 December she debuted at La Scala as Elena with Hina Spani, Aureliano Pertile and De Angelis, to enormous ovations. She recalled it as the greatest personal success of her career. La Scala's management was so impressed that she was offered Aida as her second role and on 22 February 1925 she sang the Ethiopian princess there for the first time. The cast included Giuseppina Zinetti, Pertile and Franci and the revival was conducted by Ettore Panizza. This was the great breakthrough, for though Elena had been hysterically received, no one was quite sure what would happen when Arangi attempted the classic soprano role. To say there was disbelief would be to understate the obvious. Her triumph was complete and the Milan critics were literally speechless. They could only write in awe about that which they had read the previous summer, but which most admitted they did not believe.  Giannina now felt the confidence to abandon her mezzo repertoire completely and on 29 July she debuted at the Verona Arena as Gioconda with Minghini Cattaneo, Vittorio Lois and Benvenuto Franci to continued frantic audience response. At Bergamo she appeared in La Gioconda, and for the first time in Il Trovatore. In December Giannina sang in the Italian premiere of Ariadne auf Naxos at Turin's Teatro Torino with Vittorio Gui on the podium. It was another personal and artistic success, and at the end of the run she sang in a concert at the Torino that featured music by other contemporary composers. During 1925, though the dates are uncertain Arangi also sang the role of Norma for the first time at Reggio Emilia with Minghini Cattaneo, and at Bologna she sang Santuzza.  1926 began with a debut at Genoa's Carlo Felice in Aida and continued with Gioconda at both Brescia and Como to extraordinary reviews. On 20 March she debuted at Catania's Massimo Bellini as Aida and stayed for nine performances; another overwhelming triumph. Giannina was engaged by the Teatro Colón for its winter season and on 22 May she debuted as Asteria in Boito's Nerone with Luisa Bertana, Pertile, Franci and Pinza. Muzio had sung in the first performance and the comparisons were equally complimentary of both artists. On 4 June Arangi sang in La Gioconda and on the 11th, she sang Santuzza with Lauri-Volpi. Her final role at Buenos Aires was the Trovatore Leonora after which she traveled to Rio de Janeiro for additional performances of Nerone and Cavalleria Rusticana. Arangi was very well received by both press and public so it is all the more surprising that she never returned to South America. On 4 November she sang the Trovatore Leonora at Bologna with a cast that included Minghini Cattaneo, Pertile and Armando Borgioli and she ended the year at La Scala with Santuzza, partnered by Merli and Franci.  La Scala presented her in nine performances of Aida in January of 1927. The cast of the premiere included Ebe Stignani, Merli, Franci and Antonio Righetti, after which she sang in La Gioconda with Stignani, Luisa Bertana, Merli, Franci and Tancredi Pasero. She was now the reigning dramatic soprano at Milan's temple and would remain so until Toscanini left in 1929. Giannina debuted at Lisbon's Sao Carlo in April as Aida, and she continued her season there with Il Trovatore and La Gioconda. It was during the third performance of the Ponchielli work that the singer engaged for the role of La Cieca found herself indisposed. There were no replacements on the roster, and Giannina, daring to make the suggestion, performed the solo sections of the role while the hapless contralto mouthed the words. At the conclusion of "a te questa rosario" there was an ovation of several minutes' duration, and Giannina was forced to step out of character to acknowledge what was labeled in the press the following day "an unsurpassable triumph". One journalist termed it "a tour de force never before seen at the Sao Carlo". In May Giannina sang in Il Trovatore at Florence with Minghini Cattaneo, Merli and Gaetano Viviani. At the Verona Arena she sang in Aida ten times with Minghini Cattaneo, Antonio Cortis and Viviani, after which she sang Gioconda at Fermo and Norma at Treviso. In December she returned to La Scala for Santuzza and on the 26th, she sang Gioconda at Genoa's Carlo Felice. Giannina had been engaged for a long season in Australia in 1928, and as a prelude she signed a contract to appear at Cairo and Alexandria before departing for the Antipodes. On 12 January Arangi sang Gioconda at Cairo's Teatro Reale with Maria Capuana, Angelo Minghetti and Carlo Morelli. The following week she sang in Tosca with Minghetti and Morelli and in February she sang Santuzza with Minghetti. In mid-season she was recalled to La Scala for performances of Il Trovatore with Minghini Cattaneo, Merli and Carlo Galeffi. Her season at Alexandria never materialized since it was time to leave for Australia. In the company were Toti Dal Monte, Hina Spani, Xenia Belmas, Zinetti, Merli, Minghetti, Enzo de Muro Lomanto, Apollo Granforte and Luigi Rossi Morelli.  The trip took five weeks and during most of that time the company was engaged in rehearsals for the upcoming Australian premiere of Turandot. It was scheduled to open the season at Melbourne. After exhaustive hours of practice it was finally decided that the premiere would have to be postponed, and on 12 May, a celebrity audience saw Aida with Arangi Lombardi, Zinetti, Merli and Australia's own John Brownlee. Brownlee had returned from Europe specifically to sing with the Melba/Williamson Company after a five-year absence and he was hailed as the conqueror, though every one received what can only be labeled spectacular notices. On 9 June, Turandot was presented with Arangi, Merli, Luisa Bonetti and Corrado Zambelli. The production, the costumes and the performers all received the most lavish of praise, but the opera was described in very equivocal terms. Most thought it to be minor Puccini, in fact. However, audience response was wild, and three scheduled performances became seven, a scene repeated at Sydney.  By the time the company reached Sydney, many cast changes were announced, which led some of the press to label it, with unguarded anger, an Italian conspiracy. Brownlee was gone, to be replaced by Granforte in Pagliacci and Aida, Arangi replaced Belmas in Cavalleria, which had been the Russian's only role to date, and other Australians who had been promised leading, if not starring roles, were not to be found on stage. When Arangi Lombardi sang her first Santuzza the press did comment, grudgingly, that she was not the lesser of the two singers, though they still maintained that there was no reason to have "engineered" the replacements. Brownlee ended up giving a recital tour throughout the country during the rest of the season, and Belmas gave a few of her own before returning to Europe, extremely disappointed. When Toti Dal Monte and Enzo de Muro Lomanto were married at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral, Giannina, who was one of the official witness, sang Schubert's "Ave Maria" with "profound sentiment and exquisite tone". At the ceremony's conclusion her "magnificent voice intoned Mercadante's Ave Maria as the congregation left the sanctuary".  Arangi, Merli, Zinetti and Granforte appeared in a stellar revival of Il Trovatore and at Adelaide Giannina repeated the same four roles, after which she returned to Italy. Hina Spani replaced her as Turandot in Perth, while Aida and Trovatore were dropped from the repertoire. It is unclear who sang Santuzza. The season was a formidable success. The company had presented some one hundred and seventy performances in houses that displayed a "sold out" sign over ninety percent of the time. Several of the stars including "Italy's handsomest tenor", Minghetti, and his wife, Lulu Hayes, stayed on for a concert tour which took them back to Melbourne and Sydney, and so ended the grandest of the Grand Tours to Australia.  The first order of business upon Giannina's return to Italy was to record the first of her four complete operas, Aida, in a cast that included Capuana, Aroldo Lindi, Armando Borgioli and Pasero. It was to become a best seller in Italy and has remained available for nearly its entire history. On Christmas night, she sang in Gioconda at Parma with Minghini Cattaneo, Luigi Marini and Borgioli. On 25 January 1929 Giannina sang in Il Trovatore at Bari's Teatro Petruzzelli with Vera de Kristoff, who had been Zinetti's seldom used backup in Australia, and Luigi Marletta, and in February, she sang Norma at the Petruzzelli, again with de Kristoff. At La Scala she repeated Santuzza and Aida before undertaking a trip to Vienna and Berlin with Toscanini and the La Scala ensemble. These were to be Toscanini's last performances with the company, before emigrating to the United States, where he would reside for the rest of his life. Arangi appeared in Il Trovatore and Aida in both cities, and at the end of the journey she took a long, much-needed rest. In the autumn, she sang in Il Trovatore at Novarra and in Aida at Vicenza before returning to La Scala. Giannina decided that without Toscanini there was no reason to remain in a theater that had already shown hostility to the Maestros memory. She sang the Gran Vestale to Bianca Scacciati's Giulia and Donna Anna in a cast that included Gina Cigna, Mafalda Favero, Tito Schipa and Mariano Stabile, and then allowed the doors of that august theater to close behind her, never to return. On 18 January 1930 she returned to Genoa for Aida and two weeks later she debuted at Naples' Teatro San Carlo in the same role with Stignani, Merli and Enrico Molinari. It was an enormous success and she followed it with Il Trovatore featuring the same cast. At Rome's Reale, she sang in Un Ballo in Maschera, Mulè's Dafni, Guglielmo Tell with Lauri-Volpi and Franci and in Il Trovatore with Elvira Casazza, Lauri-Volpi and Franci. At Florence she appeared as Gioconda and at Bergamo's Campo Brumara she sang Norma. Giannina debuted at the Zürich Staadtheater in the Manzoni Requiem, partnered by Mingini-Cattaneo, Roberto D'Alessio and Antonio Righetti, after which she returned to Italy for Tosca at San Felice sul Panaro, Trovatore at Cento and Aida at Ferrara. During the autumn, she also recorded Cavalleria Rusticana with Antonio Melandri. It is a very clear lesson in the differences between her bel canto approach to verismo and the verismo approach of others to Verdi.  Audiences in Rome were delighted that she had broken her ties to Milan and in the winter of 1931 she appeared at the Reale in Damnation of Faust, Un Ballo in Maschera, Marinuzzi's Paolo e Francesca, Aida and in a stellar revival of Nozze di Figaro with Adelaide Saraceni, Pederzini, Stabile and Giulio Cirino. At Genoa she repeated the Ballo Amelia with Pertile and at Rome she sang in a recital at the Accademia di Santa Cecelia before returning to the Reale for Mascagni's Le Maschere. In July, she undertook a two month tour of Italy in Aida. The cities visited were Le Roncole, Trieste, Bologna, Udine, Venice, Adria, Milan, Turin, Genoa, Montecatini and finally Rome, where on 5 September at the Villa Umberto she closed the Carro di Tespi season. On 31 October Giannina sang in a concert at Milan's Teatro del Popolo with Pertile, and after Aida at Vercelli, she sang in Andrea Chenier for the only time in her career, with Franco Battaglia and Granforte, at Casalmaggiore. She closed her year at Brescias Teatro Grande in Aida. During 1931, Giannina completed her quartet of complete opera recordings, first with her defining portrayal of Gioconda, and finally as Elena in the classic exposition of Mefistofele, with Mafalda Favero, Antonio Melandri and the overwhelming Nazzareno De Angelis.  On 4 February 1932, Giannina sang Tosca at the San Carlo and later in the month she debuted at Nice as Gioconda with later performances of Un Ballo in Maschera. On the 22nd, she sang in a concert for the Turin Radio Network and among her selections was "O grandi occhi" from Fedora. She returned to the San Carlo in March for Aida and Cilea's Gloria and in July Giannina sang in Un Ballo in Maschera at Verona with Margherita Carosio, Pertile and Franci. During the late summer she again toured with Carro di Tespi to several Italian cities as Santuzza, and as in the previous year, concluded the season at Rome. On 1 October she performed Mulè's La Baronessa di Carini for Rome Radio and later in the month sang Gioconda at both Ferrara and Perugia. On 26 December she opened the season at Turin's Regio in Un Ballo in Maschera with Pertile and Galeffi.  1933 began with Gioconda at Palermo, after which Giannina sang Selika in L'Afticaine and Elizabeth in Tannhäuser at the Carlo Felice. In March she finally sang a staged performance of La Baronessa di Carini when she appeared at the San Carlo. After additional performances of Gioconda at Naples she prepared for Lucrezia Borgia at Florence. That and Vestale were to be the two great revivals of the Maggio Musicale and both were resounding successes, the first with Gigli, Pederzini and Pasero and the latter with Rosa Ponselle in her only performances in Italy. Lucrezia Borgia was later presented at Rome's Reale, intact. The rest of the year was taken with Gioconda at Rome, Dafni for Rome Radio, concerts at Milan and Paris, and in a grand tour to Berlin for Il Trovatore and Aida. Both operas featured Stignani, Battaglia and Giacomo Rimini. At Rome Giannina sang Mozart's Countess in January 1934 and at Piacenza she sang in Aida followed by Il Trovatore at Genoa. April found her in Palermo for Un Ballo in Maschera and a concert with Pertile and at Rome's Teatro Augusteo she appeared in Resurezzione di Cristo with Fanny Anitua. Rome, Venice and Lecce all saw her as Aida and in July she appeared at Ponchielli's birthplace, Cremona for a much heralded revival of his Figliuol Prodigo with Elena Nicolai, Merli, Mario Basiola and Pasero. It was the first performance in a generation and made musical headlines throughout Italy. The Carro di Tespi season included Norma at Rome, Aquila and Civitavecchia with Minghini Cattaneo, Renato Zanelli and Pinza, followed by a tour of Rossini's Guglielmo Tell to Pesaro, Ancona, Macerata, Fabriano, Ascoli Piceno and Jesi. The Pesaro engagement included a concert with Mercedes Capsir and Merli. In October she sang in concerts at Turin and Paderno Cremonese, and so her year ended. Something had happened during 1934; Giannina was beginning to receive compromised reviews and there were complaints, particularly about her top register, which was showing signs of strain. Those lofty seasons at Italy's top ten theaters were by now pretty much behind her, and though she would occasionally have a prestigious engagement, most would be little more than paychecks until her retirement in 1937. In 1935 Arangi opened the season at Catania with a gala performance of Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda in commemoration of the centenary of the composer's death, and later in the winter she sang the Ballo Amelia at Brescia as well as Gioconda at Trieste's Teatro Verdi and at Piacenza. On 24 April, she sang in Mose at Florence with Sara Scuderi, Stignani and Pasero after which she traveled to Oslo for Aida and to Hamburg for a concert. On 1 August she sang at the Salzburg Festival in Don Giovanni under Bruno Walter. Her Donna Anna was generally considered unsuccessful and she failed to complete the run. After Aida at Messina she traveled to Barcelona, where, at the Liceo she debuted in La Forza del Destino with Battaglia and Granforte. Again the voice was described as imposing but without the luster that had been so admired in so many other theaters. Giannina left Barcelona without having sung contracted performances of Aida. In December she sang in Ballo at Modena and in Gioconda at Naples. The whispers were now turning into mutterings. She really was not a soprano said they; she should have stayed with the mezzo repertoire. There was certainly little generosity in either her reviews or her receptions.  In January 1936 she sang in the second cast of Aida at Trieste and in Nozze di Figaro at Genoa. February saw her at Parma and Genoa for Aida and in March she returned to the Carlo Felice for Un Ballo in Maschera. At Pisa she appeared as Gioconda and for Rome Radio she sang in Mose with Lina Pagliughi, Tafuro, Tagliabue and Pasero. At Pavia she presented Aida and in the Carro di Tespi tour she sang La Gioconda at Spezia and Milan. In August she traveled to Noto, Sicily for Ballo and a concert, and at Milan's Piazza Beglioioso she gave a concert in September. The autumn was occupied with Gioconda at Adria and Alessandria as well as the Manzoni Requiem and a recital program at Turin.  In the winter of 1937 she returned to Trieste and Naples for Ballo and was tepidly received by both press and public. Giannina discussed her declining vocal resources with her husband and friends, and after much soul searching decided to leave the stage rather than become the subject of ridicule. She amazed all of Italy by appearing at Palermo's Massimo on 31 March in the fiendishly difficult role of Elena in I Vespri Siciliani. It was not a scandal; in fact, she reveled in enormous ovations by capacity audiences for all four performances. Thus ended her career in opera. In September she sang in Rossini's Petite Messa Sollenele at Milan, and in January 1939, Giannina stepped out of retirement to sing the Rossini work for Turin's radio station. Renzo died in 1939 and Giannina moved with her daughter, Vittoria, to Milan, where she employed herself very successfully as a vocal coach. In 1947, the Turkish government recruited throughout Italy for a director of its Music Conservatory at Ankara, and Giannina was among the singers considered. It was an extremely lucrative contract, one which would give her a greater income than she had received while she was singing and since Vittoria was now married, Giannina decided to accept the challenge, replacing Apollo Granforte, who had been engaged at Prague. Among their great success stories is Leyla Gencer. Giannina stayed at Ankara until 1951, when, for reasons of health, she returned to Italy. She was diagnosed with a very serious aneurism in May and the most prominent physicians in Italy were consulted, but there was nothing that could be done. Giannina Arangi Lombardi died on 9 July with her daughter at her side. She is buried in Milan's Cemitero di Carata Brianza.

Chronology of appearances

1920 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Wally (Afra)
1920 Roma Teatro Costanzi Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1920 Palermo  Teatro Biondo Norma (Adalgisa)
1921 Palermo  Teatro Biondo Favorita (Leonora)
1921 Palermo  Teatro Biondo Gioconda  (Laura)
1921 Palermo  Teatro Massimo Gioconda  (Laura)
1921 Carpi  Teatro Comunale Gioconda  (Laura)
1921 Finale Emilia  Teatro Sociale Gioconda  (Laura)
1921 Parma  Teatro Regio Gioconda  (Laura)
1922 Firenze  Politeama Fiorentino Tristano e Isotta (Brangania)
1922 Bologna Politeama Regina Margherita Norma (Adalgisa)
1922 Piacenza  Teatro Municipale Gioconda  (Laura)
1922 Milano  Teatro Carcano Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1922 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1922 Parma Teatro Regio Tannhauser (Venere)
1922 Venezia  Teatro La Fenice Tristano e Isotta (Brangania)
1923 Messina Teatro Mastroieni Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1923 Messina  Teatro Mastroieni Gioconda (Gioconda)
1923 Palermo  Teatro Massimo Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1923 Napoli  Teatro Mercadante Gioconda (Gioconda)
1924 Il Cairo  Teatro Kedivhiale Tannhauser (Venere)
1924 Castiglione delle Stiviere Teatro Sociale Gioconda (Gioconda)
1924 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Favorita (Leonora)
1924 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Mefistofele (Margherita)
1924 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Mefistofele (Margherita)
1925 Verona Arena Gioconda (Gioconda)
1925 Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Gioconda (Gioconda)
1925 Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Favorita (Leonora)
1925 Como Teatro Sociale Gioconda (Gioconda)
1925 Reggio Emilia  Politeama Ariosto Norma (Norma)
1926 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Boheme (Mimi)
1926 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1926 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Gioconda (Gioconda)
1926 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Trovatore (Leonora)
1926 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1926 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Mimi)
1926 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Gioconda (Gioconda)
1926 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Trovatore (Leonora)
1926 Brescia  Teatro Grande Gioconda (Gioconda)
1926 Bologna  Teatro Comunale  Trovatore (Leonora)
1927 Milano Teatro alla Scala Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1927 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Gioconda (Gioconda)
1927 Milano Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Mimi)
1927 Fermo  Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Gioconda (Gioconda)
1927 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Gioconda (Gioconda)
1927 Treviso  Teatro Sociale Norma (Norma)
1927 Firenze  Politeama Fiorentino Trovatore (Leonora)
1928 Sidney  Her Majesty's Boheme (Mimi)
1928 Sidney  Her Majesty's Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1928 Sidney  Her Majesty's Trovatore (Leonora)
1928 Il Cairo  Teatro Kedivhiale Gioconda (Gioconda)
1928 Parma  Teatro Regio Gioconda (Gioconda)
1928 Milano  Teatro La Scala Trovatore (Leonora)
1929 Milano Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Mimi)
1929 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1929 Bari  Teatro Petruzzelli Norma (Norma)
1929 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Trovatore (Leonora)
1929 Berlino  Staatsoper Trovatore (Leonora)
1930 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1930 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Trovatore (Leonora)
1930 Firenze  Teatro Comunale Gioconda (Gioconda)
1930 Bergamo Campo Sportivo Norma (Norma)
1930 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Trovatore (Leonora)
1930 Cento  Teatro Comunale Trovatore (Leonora)
1931Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1931 Casalmaggiore Teatro Sociale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)
1932 Verona  Arena Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1932 Torino Teatro Regio Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1932 Ferrara  Teatro Comunale Gioconda (Gioconda)
1933 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Tannhauser (Venere)
1933 Palermo Teatro Massimo Gioconda (Gioconda)
1933 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Gioconda (Gioconda)
1933 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Gioconda (Gioconda)
1934 Palermo  Teatro Massimo Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1934 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Trovatore (Leonora)
1935 Piacenza  Teatro Municipale Gioconda (Gioconda)
1935 Brescia  Teatro Grande  Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1935 Modena Teatro Comunale  Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1935 Venezia  Teatro La Fenice Gioconda (Gioconda)
1936 Pisa  Teatro Verdi Gioconda (Gioconda)
1936 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Gioconda (Gioconda)
1937 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)
1938 Noto  Teatro del Littoriale  Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 






Fonografia Nazionale/Artiphon, Milano
Aida (Verdi): Gia i sacerdoti with Carmelo Alabiso 8166
Aida (Verdi): Misero appien with Carmelo Alabiso 8167
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Deh! Non turbar with Carmelo Alabiso 1035
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Laggiù nelle nebbie remote with Carmelo Alabiso 1036

Columbia, Milano 1926-03-06
Forza del destino (Verdi): Madre pietosa vergine L1833 BX19
Forza del destino (Verdi):  La vergine degli angeli L1833 BX20

Columbia, Milano 1927-01-27
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Tu qui Santuzza? with Francesco Merli D18017 WBX 82
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): No no Turiddu with Francesco Merli D18017 WBX 83

Columbia, Milano 1927-01-28
Aida (Verdi): Nel fiero anelito di nuovo guerra with Francesco Merli D18019 BX86
Aida (Verdi): O terra addio with Francesco Merli D18019 BX87

Columbia, Milano 1927-04-23
Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere with Francesco Merli   D18024 BX121
Aida (Verdi): Nume custode e vindice with Tancredi Pasero and Francesco Merli GQX10162 WBX120

Columbia, Milano 1927-04-25
Norma (Bellini): Mira o Norma with Lina Lanza D18022  WBX 124
Norma (Bellini): Si fin all'ore with Lina Lanza D18022 WBX 125

Columbia, Milano 1927-04-30
Trovatore (Verdi): Tacea la notte placida GQX10166 WBX 130
Trovatore (Verdi): D’amor sull’ali rosee GQX10166  WBX 131

Columbia, Milano 1928-03-29
Trovatore (Verdi): Di geloso amor with Francesco Merli and Carlo Galeffi GQX10188 WBX259
Trovatore (Verdi): Mira d'acerbe lagrime with Carlo Galeffi D18047 WBX 257

Columbia, Milano
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Seguitemi with E. Molinari, S. Baccaloni and Bordonali D14591, D14591 WBX652
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Mio Dio!:  Finale II with E. Molinari, S. Baccaloni and Bordonali D14591 WBX656
Norma (Bellini): Casta diva D14737  WBX 649
Ernani (Verdi): Fa’ che a me venga with Enrico Molinari  D18073
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cosi mantieni il patto with Enrico Molinari 18074 WBX 645
Gugliemo Tell (Rossini): Selva opaca RQX20003

Columbia, Milano 1934-01-08
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Morrò, ma prima in grazia  GQX10704 CBX 1323
Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): Come e bello, quale incanto GQX10703  CBX 1324
Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): M'odi, ah! m'odi GQX10703  CBX 1325
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Ma dall’arido stelo divulsa GQX10704  CBX 1326
Lombardi (Verdi): Te, Vergin santa Invoco GQX10702  WBX1327
Lombardi (Verdi): O Madre, dal Cielo GQX10702 CBX 1327

Columbia, Milano 1926/1934
Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d’arte GQX10508   WBX 1119
Boheme (Puccini): Mi chiamano Mimì GQX10508 WBX 1118



















Saturday, May 12, 2012

Rosina Storchio (Soprano) (Venezia, Italy 1876 – Milan, Italy 1945)



                                                             Cio-Cio-San


                                                                  Zaza

She was an important Italian lyric soprano who starred in the world premieres of operas by Puccini, Leoncavallo, Mascagni and Giordano. Renowned throughout her homeland for her vivacious acting and sparkling stage presence, she possessed a smallish voice which deteriorated prematurely due to hard use, over-parting, and flaws in her technique. Born in Venice, Storchio studied at the Milan Conservatory before making her operatic debut as Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen at Milan’s Teatro Dal Verme in 1892. Three years later, she debuted at Italy's most famous opera house, La Scala, Milan, performing in Massenet’s Werther. Milan became her home base from then on, but she also appeared during the pre-World War I period at theatres in other key Italian cities, including Rome and her native Venice. She toured South America and Spain, too, and undertook singing engagements in Paris and Moscow, unwisely venturing parts as heavy as that of Tosca in Puccini's opera of the same name. In 1921, by which time her voice was in marked decline, she sang in Chicago and New York City. Her final public performance was as Cio-Cio San in Puccini's Madama Butterfly at Barcelona in 1923. (She had sung this same part in the first performance of Butterfly, at La Scala, in 1904.) Storchio died in Milan near the end of World War II. She left a small legacy of 78-rpm gramophone recordings made during the early years of the 20th century. These recordings (reissued since on CD) include extracts from verismo opera—the repertoire with which she was most closely associated. She did, however, also appear on stage in a few French operas and works by Verdi, most notably Falstaff.

Chronology of some appearances

1892 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Carmen (Micaela)
1895 Milano Teatro Lirico Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1896 Firenze Teatro Pagliano Boheme (Mimi)
1896 Como Teatro Sociale Boheme (Mimi)
1896 Roma Teatro Nazionale Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1897 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Boheme (Mimi) (Leoncavallo) (World Premiere)
1898 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)
1898 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Boheme (Mimi) (Leoncavallo)
1898 Trieste  Teatro Comunale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)
1898 Trieste Teatro Comunale Boheme (Mimi)
1898 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Boheme (Mimi)
1899 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Boheme (Mimi)
1904 Milano Teatro alla Scala Don Pasquale (Norina)
1904 Milano Teatro alla Scala Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1906 Buenos Ayres Teatro dell'Opera Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Montevideo Teatro Solis Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)  

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 






G&T, Milano 1903-11?
Siberia (Giordano): No, se un pensier torturo 53331 Con388
Siberia (Giordano): Quest'orgoglio with Giuseppe de Luca 54048 Con394
Siberia (Giordano): Non odi la il martir 53332 Con398
Siberia (Giordano): E qui con te il mio destin with Giovanni Zenatello 054027 Con750
Siberia (Giordano): Non odi la il martir 53332 Con398
Fonotipia, Milano 1905-12-02
Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Quel guardo il cavalier 39400 XPh1500
Don Pasquale (Donizetti): So anch'io la virtu magica 39401 XPh1501
Linda di Chamounix (Donizetti): O luce di quest'anima 39402 XPh1502

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-02-19
Traviata (Verdi): Pura siccome un angelo with Riccardo Stracciari Unpubl. XPh1625

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-18
Fra Diavolo (Auber): Si, domani 39597 XPh1794

Fonotipia, Milano 1911-02-16
Boheme (Puccini): Mimì Pinson 92861 XPh4514
Sonnambula (Bellini): Ah, non giunge 92754 XPh4516