Irnerio Costantini (Bass/Baritone) (Roma ? - ?)

His complete name was Irnerio Di Maria Costantini. He began his singing studies despite the opposition of his father and at the age of 16 entered at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where he studied singing under Antonio Cotogni. He made his debut in 1902 at Teatro Sociale of Mantova. In 1922 he was a member of a artist’s group gathered under the name of "Soloists of the Sistine Chapel" which made a long tour in Australia and New Zeland.

Chronology of some appearances

1902 Mantova Teatro Sociale Tosca (Angelotti)

1904 Modena Teatro Municipale Manon Lescaut (Geronte)

1905 Corfu Teatro Comunale Aida (Re)

1910 Massa Lombarda Politeama Zamboni Maria Di Rohan (De Fiesque)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Homokord, 1910?

Vespri Siciliani (Verdi): Grand Aria di Procida 2218
Don Carlo (Verdi): Dormiro Sol 2219

Homokord, 1910-12-13

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Si puo 2236  

Boheme (Puccini): O Mimi tu piu non torni with Ivo Zaccari  2237

Homocord/Cabezas, 1911

Rigoletto (Verdi): Pari siamo 2258
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Stretta 2273

Masnadieri (Verdi): Come il bacio d’un padre with Ivo Zaccari 2281

Gina mia
Sincerita

Leonida Bellon (Tenor) (? 1905 - ? 1987)

Probably he made his debut in 1932. His career was limited to the Italian provinces. After his retirement he lived at the ‘’Casa Verdi’’, the home for retired musicians.

Chronology of some appearances

1935 Catania Anfiteatro Ganci Rigoletto (Duca)

1935 Catania Anfiteatro Ganci Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1935 Catania Anfiteatro Ganci Traviata (Alfredo)

1936 Lucca  Teatro del Giglio Boheme (Rodolfo)

1936 Lucca  Teatro del Giglio Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1938 Imola Teatro Modernissimo Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1940 Messina  Teatro Savoia Boheme (Rodolfo)

1940 Messina Teatro Savoia Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Cetra

Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Addio, fiorito asil  CC2204 70327

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Donna non vidi mai  CC2204 70328

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Come un bel di di maggio  CC2213  PE 145

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Improvviso CC2213 PE 145

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Addio alla madre with Maria Vinciguerra  CC2205 PE 144
Mefistofele (Boito): Dai campi, dai prati  CC2213 PE 145

Hilde Monti (Soprano) (Belluno 1897 - ?)

She appeared at the italian provincial theatres, where she was from 1925 to 1940 a known interpreter of dramatic soprano parts.

Chronology of some appearances

1927 Fiume Teatro Verdi Turandot (Turandot)

1928 Novara Teatro Coccia  Aida (Aida)

1930 Vicenza Teatro Verdi Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)

1932 Catania Teatro Bellini Gioconda (Gioconda)

1934 Bologna Teatro Del Corso Turandot (Turandot)

1936 Bologna Teatro Duse  Turandot (Turandot)

1938 Biella Aperto Aida (Aida)

1939 Livorno Piazza del Pamiglione Gioconda (Gioconda)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

HMV, Milano 1928-02-22

Aida (Verdi): Rivedrai le foreste imbalsamate with Apollo Granforte 2-054216 DB 1153

Aida (Verdi): Su dunque sorgete with Apollo Granforte  2-054217 DB 1153

Fonotipia, Milano 1930-03-27

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Tu qui Santuzza P.I° with Vittorio Lois F 23001 xxph 6595

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Tu qui Santuzza P.II°  with Vittorio Lois F 23001 xxph 6597

  

Assunta Gargiulo (Soprano) (Napoli ? - ?)

Already in 1915 she appeared at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in the premiere of the opera ‘’Fedra’’ of  R. Romani. In the 1918-19 season she sang again at the Teatro Costanzi. This time she performed in ‘’La Bohème’’, ‘’Carmen’’, ‘’Pelléas et Mélisande’’ etc. In 1926 she appeared at the Teatro Dell'Opera in the premiere of the opera ‘’Gioconda e il suo Re’’ of Adriano Lualdi. In the Italian province she enjoyed a special success as Violetta in ‘’La Traviata’’. This role she sang in many famous Italian opera stages. In 1925 she created for the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa the role of Lauretta in ‘’Gianni Schicchi’’ of  Puccini. In 1928 she appeared at La Scala as Musetta in ‘’La Bohème’’ as a partner of Rosetta Pampanini. Probably she retired from the stage in 1935.

Chronology of some appearances

1905 Brescia Teatro Grande Chopin di G. Orefice

1906 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Traviata (Violetta)

1913 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Wally (Walter)

1915 Roma Teatro Costanzi Fedra di I. Pizzetti (Carilla)

1917 Milano Teatro Carcano Don Pasquale (Norina)

1919 Roma Teatro Costanzi Carmen (Micaela)

1921 Sampierdarena    Politeama Sampierdarenese Traviata (Violetta)

1923 Catania Teatro Bellini  Falstaff (Nannetta)

1926 Como Teatro Sociale Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)

1928 Torino Teatro Regio Gianni Schicchi (Lauretta)

1930 Torino Teatro Regio Gianni Schicchi (Lauretta)

1935 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Manon (Manon)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1927

Traviata (Verdi): Brindisiwith Ettore Parmeggiani D5612 B1250

Traviata (Verdi): Prendi, quest'e l'immagine with Ettore Parmeggiani and Gino Vanelli D5612 B1251

Fonotipia, Milano 1928-05-19

Boheme (Puccini): Addio, dolce svegliare with Ferdinando Ciniselli and Augusta Concato 120145 XXPh6241

Millo Picco (Baritone) (Torino, Italy 1888 - ?)

Probably he made his debut in Italy, but soon went to USA to make a career there. In USA he appeared in Vitaphone movie ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’(1927) as a partner of  Beniamino Gigli.

Chronology of some appearances

1909 Boston  Opera House Pagliacci (Tonio)

1910 Boston  Boston Theater Pagliacci (Tonio)

1911 Città del Messico  Teatro Arbeu Boheme (Schaunard)

1911 Città del Messico  Teatro Arbeu Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1911 Città del Messico  Teatro Arbeu Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1911 Boston  Opera House Trovatore (Conte)

1912  Città del Messico  Teatro Nuovo Colon Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1912 Città del Messico  Nuovo Colon Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1914  Boston  Boston Theater Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1915 Boston  Opera House Carmen (Escamilio)

1915 Boston  Opera House Pagliacci (Tonio)

1915 Boston  Opera House Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1915 Baltimora  New Academy of Music Pagliacci (Tonio)

1915 Washington  Belasco Theater Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1915 Louisville  Macauley's Theater Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1915 Detroit  Garrick Theater Traviata (Germont)

1915 Detroit  Garrick Theater Tosca (Scarpia)

1916  Buffalo  Teck Theater  Boheme (Schaunard)

1916  Buffalo  Teck Theater   Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1916 Memphis  Lyceum Theater Trovatore (Conte)

1917 Città del Messico  Plaza de Toros Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1917 Chicago  Ravinia Park Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1917 Chicago  Ravinia Park Pagliacci (Tonio)

1918 Città del Messico  Teatro Arbeu Manon Lescaut (Lescaut)

1919 Philadelphia  Teatro Metropolitan Boheme (Schaunard)

1919 Philadelphia  Teatro Metropolitan Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1921 Chicago  Ravinia Park Boheme (Schaunard)

1923 New York  Teatro Metropolitan Boheme (Schaunard)

1923 New York  Teatro Metropolitan Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1924 San Francisco  Civic Auditorium Boheme (Schaunard)

1924 San Francisco  Civic Auditorium  Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1925 New York  Teatro Metropolitan Boheme (Schaunard)

1925 New York  Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1925 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Boheme (Schaunard)

1927 San Francisco  Civic Auditorium Pagliacci (Tonio)

1928 San Francisco Civic Auditorium Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1929 San Francisco Civic Auditorium Pagliacci (Tonio)

1930 San Francisco  Civic Auditorium Boheme (Schaunard)

1930 San Francisco  Civic Auditorium Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

Luigi Simonetta-Rangoni (Tenor)

He belonged to the group of the tenors (Giuseppe Bartolotta, De Santis, Nicola Fasciolo, Andrea Maggi), who made records, but never appeared on the opera stage. Probably he participated in the concerts.

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Milano 1917-02-25
Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Com'e gentil 7-52106 DA421

Gramophone, Milano 1917-03-05

Caro mio ben (Giordani) 7-52121 DA422

Gramophone, Milano 1919-04-29
Quando te vidi (Wolf-Ferrari); Io dei salute (Wolf-Ferrari) 7-52130 DA420

Gramophone, Milano 1919-05-02
Nebbie (Respighi) 7-52129 DA420

 

Alessandro Valente (Tenor) (Torino 1890 - ? 1958)

Already as a child he sang in the opera choir of Verona, later he studied singing under Louis Scheiwein. In 1912 he came to London and sang without success at the Hippodrom in Mascagni’s ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’ under the management of the composer.  He remained in England and worked under the name Alex Vallo at cabarets, in Variétés and appeared in musicals. During the First World War he served in the Italian army. After the end of the war he appeared in Italy. In 1924 he accompanied Luisa Tetrazzini as supporting artist on her resignation tour. In 1931 he gave concerts in Berlin and in the radio station of Cologne. He lived later in Italy where he been active as an inventor (among other things a hanging-device for curtains).

Chronology of some appearances

1912 Londra Hyppodrom Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1913 Londra Coliseum Concerto

1927 Roma Teatro Adriano Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1932 Londra Radio Broadcasting Concerto

1933 Londra Wingmore Hall Concerto

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

HMV, London1927-04-25

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba C1387 2-052333

Turandot (Puccini): Nessun dorma  B2458 7-52360

HMV, London1927-05-10

Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia  C1387 2-052338

HMV, Milano 1928-02-21

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Tu, tu, amore with Emma Latuada C1503 2-054214

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): O tentatrice with Emma Latuada C1503 2-054215

HMV, Milano 1928-04-17

Sly (Wolf-Ferrari):: Un orso in musoliera S5340 2-052375

Sly (Wolf-Ferrari): Io non sono un buffone  S5340 2-052376)

HMV, Milano 1928-12-04

Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Ch'ella mi creda B3015 7-52420

Fanciulla del west (Puccini): Or son sei mesi  B3015 7-52421

HMV, Milano 1928-12-10

Cena delle Beffe (Giordano): Tornato e maggio R10117 7-52423

HMV, Milano 1928-12-17

Cena delle Beffe (Giordano): Calato in Arno R10117 7-52424

HMV, Milano 1929-06-04
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Si, tutto in un'istante... Addio, fiorito asil with Pilotto B3141 30-614

HMV, Milano 1929-06-25

Africana (Meyerbeer): O paradis sorti de l'onde  B3141 30-615

HMV, Milano 1929-06-26

Aida (Verdi): Se querrier io fossi B3682 30-1321

Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida B3682 30-1322

HMV, Milano 1929-07-10

Boheme (Puccini): Che gelida manina R10024 30-1319

HMV, Milano 1929

Complete Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) with AdelaideSaraceni and Apollo Granforte

HMV, Milano 1930-01-06

Serenata (Mascagni)  B3486 30-2613

HMV, Milano 1930-03-13

Carmen (Bizet): Il fior   B3487 30-3390

HMV, Milano 1930-03-14

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Si, fui soldato B3486 30-3389

Decca, London? 1932 (1934??)
Canta pe' me (de Curtis) F3871 TB1110-1

Tu, ca nun chiagne (De Curtis) F3871 TB1111-1

Arbatano Sabatini (Tenor)

In 1930 he appeared at the Teatro Balbo in Torino as Canio in ''Pagliacci''

Chronology of appearance

1930 Torino Teatro Balbo Pagliacci (Canio)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Edison Bell, 1929
Voce e'notte (De Curtis)  F211

Antonio Scotti (Baritone) (Naples, Italy 1866 – Naples, Italy 1936)

He was a pupil of Esther Triffani-Paganini. His debut (1889) was as Cinna in Spontini's ''Vestale''. He made his Covent Garden debut in 1899 where he was a tremendous success, but it was later that same year, when he began his thirty-five season association with the Metropolitan Opera, that he found a home. Scotti, often teaming up with Enrico Caruso, made over 1200 appearances at the Metropolitan. He was particularly successful in ''Tosca'' as Scarpia which he performed 217 times there. His debut (27 Dec 1899) as Don Giovanni drew the following comments from W. J. Henderson of the New York Times: "He possesses a beautiful barytone voice, fine and smooth in quality...He sings with intelligence and discrimination, and with the accent of dramatic truthfullness."

Chronology of some appearances

1890 Milano  Teatro Manzoni Favorita (Alfonso)

1890 Milano  Teatro Manzoni Puritani (Riccardo)

1891 Buenos Ayres Teatro dell'Opera Puritani (Riccardo)

1892  San Paolo  Teatro San Josè Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1892 Montevideo  Teatro Solis Puritani (Riccardo)

1892 Montevideo  Teatro Solis Don Carlo (Rodrigo)

1892 San Paulo  Teatro San Josè Don Carlo (Rodrigo)

1893 Rio de Janeiro  Teatro San Pedro Otello (Jago)

1893 Buenos Ayres  Opera Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1893 San Paolo  Teatro San Josè Pagliacci (Tonio)

1893 San Paolo  Teatro San Josè Otello (Jago)

1893 San Paulo  Teatro San Josè Gioconda (Enzo)

1894 Buenos Ayres  Teatro dell'Opera Otello (Jago)

1896 Roma  Teatro Argentina Puritani (Riccardo)

1896 Varsavia  Teatro Imperiale Pagliacci (Tonio)

1896 Kiev  Teatro Solodovnikoff Ernani (Don Carlo)

1898 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Pagliacci (Tonio)

1900 Londra  Covent Garden Tosca (Scarpia)

1901 New York  Teatro Metropolitan Pagliacci (Tonio)

1901 Londra  Covent Garden Otello (Jago)

1902 New York  Teatro Metropolitan Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1903 Londra  Covent Garden Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1903 New York Teatro Metropolitan Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1905 San Francisco  Opera House Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1905 Londra  Covent Garden Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, London 1902

Messaline (Lara): O nuit d'amour  2-2706 2019b

Columbia, New York 1903
Carmen (Bizet): Con voi ber 1205

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Prologo  1206

Don Giovanni (Mozart): Serenata & Finch'han dal vino 1207

Max Altglass (Tenor) (Warsaw, Poland 1890 - New York 1952)

He studied in Berlin and made his debut in 1913 at the Municipal Theater of Linz, where he stayed till 1913. Then he sang from 1913-17 at the Municipal Theater of Nuremberg, in the 1917-18 season at the Municipal Theater of Kiel, from 1918-21 again in Nuremberg, from 1921-24 at the German Theater of Prague. During this time he guested at the opera house of Frankfurt a. M. (1913), at the Court theaters of Stuttgart (1915) and Brunswick (1916) and at the Berlin State Opera. In 1924 he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera, New York where he sang up to 1940 Comprimario parts. He sang there in several opera premieres including the American première of Puccini’s ‘’Turandot’’,  ‘’La cena delle beffe’’ of Giordano, ‘’Sadko’’ of Rimsky-Korsakov (1930). After his retirement he worked in New York as a respectable pedagogue.

Chronology of some appearances

1913 Linz Municipal Theater
1913-1917 Nuremberg Municipal Theater
1917-1918  Kiel Municipal Theater
1918-1921 Nuremberg Municipal Theater
1921-24 Prague German Theater

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Berlin 1921?

Cosi fan tutte (Mozart): Der Odem der Liebe erfrischet die Seele AA57710  xxBo7162

Odeon, Berlin 1921/1922

Africana (Meyerbeer): O paradiso AA79220  xxB6697

 

Théo Beets (Tenor) (Borgerhout 1897 - 1982?)

                                                  Turiddu in ''Cavalleria Rusticana''

                                                       Canio in ''Pagliacci''

He received his first education in Leuven, afterwards in Antwerpand, at the end, in Brusselsunder Demest and L. Swolfs. His debut on the opera stage occurred at the Théâtre Royal de Liège as Jean in ‘’Hérodiade’’ of Massnet (1928/1929). Then he was active at the Royal Flemish Opera of Antwerp (1932-1950). Last he appeared at the Théâtre Royal de Gand (1934-1955).

Chronology of some appearances

1928/1929  Liège Théâtre Royal  Herodiade (Jean)

1932-1950 Antwerp Royal Flemish Opera 

1934-1955 Gand Théâtre Royal 

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Polydor 1931/32

Sigurd (Reyer): Princes du Rhin  524.061 
Sigurd (Reyer): Esprits gardiens 561.031
Sigurd (Reyer): Un souvenir poignant 524.061
Damnation de Faust  (Berlioz): Merci doux crepuscule  566.146
Damnation de Faust  (Berlioz): Nature immense 566.146
Juive (Halevy): Rachel quand du seigneur  516.734
Juive (Halevy): Dieu que ma tremblante 516.734
Lohengrin (Wagner); Recit du Graal 516.619
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Plus blanche que la blanche hermine 516.653

Hérodiade (Massenet): Ne pouvant réprimer les élans de la foi   516.722
Walkure (Wagner): Chant du printemps  516.573 
Walkure (Wagner): Un glaive promis par mon pere 516.573 
Les Maitre-Chanteurs de Nuremberg (Wagner): L'aube vermeille 516.619
Aida (Verdi): Céleste Aida 566.084

Guido Vaccari (Tenor)

He studied in Padova under Giacomo Orefice. In the 1898-99 season he appeared at the Teatro La Fenice in Venezia in ‘’Walkure’’. In 1899 Vaccari sang at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste in ‘’Tristano e Isotta’’, ‘’Cornil Schut’’ of  Smareglia  and  in Ponchielli’s ‘’La Gioconda’’. He continued his appearances at the same opera house in 1906 (‘’ Walkure’’), 1908 (‘’Loreley’’) and 1912 (‘Walkure’’). In 1901 he sang the role of Siegmund at the opera house of Treviso. In 1902 he again went to Venezia and sang at the Teatro Rossini in ‘’Elisir d'amore’’. In the 1902-03 season Vaccari appeared at the Teatro La Fenice in Weber’s ‘’Eurianthe’’. At the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma he performed in  ‘’Walkure’’ (1905, 1908 and 1919), ‘’Parsifal’’ (1914); at La Scala di Milano in  ‘’Freischutz’’of  Weber (1906) and ‘’ Walkure’’ (1909-10).He retired from the stage in 1920. He was married to mezzo-soprano Maria Vaccari who appeared with him in 1908 at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna in ‘’Walkure’’ and ‘’La Wally’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1899 Trieste  Teatro Comunale Gioconda (Enzo)

1899 Trieste  Teatro Verdi Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

1901 Vigevano  Teatro Cagnoni Gioconda (Enzo)

1902 Ravenna  Teatro Alighieri Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

1904 Acqui Terme  Teatro Sociale Sonnambula (Elvino)

1908 Parma  Teatro Regio Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

1906 Madrid  Teatro Reale Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-03-15

Walküre (Wagner): Cede il verno ai rai (Winterstürme) 39557 Xph1710