Margherita Simonetti (Soprano)

She studied in Paris under Blanche Marchesi and made her debut in 1906 at the Politeama Corino of Alba in Donizetti’s ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’.

Chronolgy of appearance

1906 Alba Politeama Corino Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Homokord, Berlin 1907-

Traviata (Verdi): Aria  1471

Rigoletto (Verdi): Caro nome  1472

Mignon (Thomas): Io son Titania 1475

Homokord, Berlin 1907-03-20

Villanella (dell'Acqua) 1473

Homokord, Berlin 1907-05-16

Traviata (Verdi): Sempre libera 1477

Traviata (Verdi) Un dì felice eterea with Salvatore Giordano 2156
Carmen (Bizet) Mia madre vedo ancora with Salvatore Giordano 2155
Traviata (Verdi) Parigi o cara with Salvatore Giordano 2157

Homokord, Milano 1913-02-01
Rigoletto (Verdi): Il sol dell'anima with Mario Matroiani 2341
Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere  with Mario Matroiani 2338

Virgilio Bellatti (Baritone) (Firenze 1869 - Milano 1917)

 

He made in 1892 at La Pergola in Florence in Pescatori di Perle. He enjoyed excellent reputation and had a long career. According to chronicles of that was appreciated as Beckmesser in Meistersinger and sang the opera many times in different theaters. In 1894 he performed in the new opera of Leoncavallo "I Medici" at the Dal Verme in Milan and later in Naples in the role of Poliziano. In 1896 he was the first Schaunard in Genoa at the Politeama Genovese. In 1899 he took part in a very long tour in the United States. In 1901 he was cast in the first of the new Scala opera of Mascagni "The Masks" and sang the character of Tartaglia and also sang here in Boheme with Caruso and Carelli, and in the same year sang at the Principal of Mexico City and in other Mexican cities (It is said that in Mexico reached a popularity so great that we were selling the sweets with his effigy reproduced on paper). In 1902 took part in the tour mascagniana in the U.S., appearing in ''Iris''. His career ended in 1917, the year of his death.

                                        with Giovanni Zenatello in ''Madama Butterfly''

Chronology of some appearances

1892 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Pescatori di Perle (Zurga)

1895 Livorno Teatro Goldoni Manon (Lescaut)

1898 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Andrea Chenier (Gerard)                

1901 Parma Politeama Reinach Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1905 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1908 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1911 Napoli Teatro Bellini Don Pasquale (Malatesta)

1914 Trieste Teatro Verdi Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1917 Malta Teatro Reale Madame Sans-Gene

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, New York 1906-11?

Rolando di Berlino (Leoncavallo): Preghiera di Giovanni   A 5076 30117          

Columbia, Milano 1910?

Boheme (Leoncavallo): L'influenza del blue E 2044 10930

Fra' Diavolo (Auber): Io son signori un infelice E2089 10490           

Fra' Diavolo (Auber): Grazie al ciel per una serva E2089 10994      

Fedora (Giordano): Egli mi disse E2090 10999 

Fedora (Giordano): La donna russa E2090 11000

Augusto Beuf (Baritone) (Palermo 1887 - Verona 1969)

As a boy he took part in an opera tour of a troupe and performed in operas ‘’Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’ and ‘’Don Pasquale’’. Then he studied violoncello in the Liceo musicale of Palermo and became a cellist in the orchestra of the Teatro Massimo, Palermo. He began his career without real song study. He travelled around with an Italian operetta troupe, the Compagnia Lombardo, Egypt. In Cairo impresario Castellani obliged him for a Greece tour and Balkan tour of his opera society. He made his opera debut in 1908 at the Teatro Comunale of Modica in ‘’Rigoletto’’. In 1913 he guested at the Teatro Biondo, Palermo as Alfio in ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’, in 1914 in Corfu as a Germont in ‘’La Traviata’’. During the First World War he served as a soldier in the Italian army. In the 1917-18 season he studied under the famous Antonio Cotogni in Rome whose last pupil he was. Then in 1918 he appeared again on the stage, namely at the Teatro Carcano in Milan. He had his first big success soon afterwards in 1920 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome where he completed his education with Alfredo Martini. He sang at the Teatro Costanzi in 1920 as Alfio in ‘’Cavalleri rusticana’’ and on 2. 5. 1921 the role of Capitano in the premiere of Mascagni’s opera ‘’Il piccolo Marat’’. During the 1920’s he made guest appearances at La Scala, Milan. In addition he sang a lot in South America, thus in 1927 at the Teatro Colցn, Buenos Aires in ‘’Tosca’’ and ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’. In the 1931-34 seasons he was a member of the Chicago Opera. Since 1934 he also took over bass parts and Wagner's roles; thus he appeared at La Scala as Hans Sachs. In 1935 he guested in Florence in the premiere of the opera ‘’L'Orseolo’’ of  Pizzetti, in 1939 he appeared at La Scala in the premiere of  E. Wolf Ferrari’s  ‘’La Dama Boba’’, likewise in 1939 at the opera house of Rome in ‘’Monte Ivnor’’ of Lodovico Rocca. From 1938-48 he undertook concert tours all over the world, often together with the Toti dal Monte with whom he appeared in Paris and Brussels, in Germany and in Switzerland. During the Second World War he guested in Berlin. In 1946 he appeared only on the English television. In 1953 he sang at La Scala in the premiere of Pizzetti’s opera ‘’ Cagliostro’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1910 Siracusa Teatro Comunale Pagliacci (Silvio)

1917 Roma Teatro Valle Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1920 Palermo Teatro Massimo Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1923 Firenze Teatro Verdi  Falstaff (Ford)

1927 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Tosca (Scarpia)

1930 Catania Teatro Bellini  Lucia Di Lammermoor (Enrico)

1933 Alessandria Teatro Municipale Otello (Jago)

1936 Milano Teatro La Scala Orseolo di I.Pizzetti (Alvise)

1941Asti  Teatro Alfieri Don Pasquale (Don Pasquale)

1945 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Aida (Ramfis)

1950 Parma Teatro Regio Don Giovanni (Leporello)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1926? (ac)
Aida (Verdi): Rivedrai le foreste, pt 1 with Bianca Scacciati D12475 B820

Don Carlo (Verdi): Per me giunto e il di  supremo D 12263  833   
Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Resta immobile D12263 B832

HMV, Milano 1941

Simon Boccanegra (Verdi): Il lacerato spirito  DB5400 BA4372-2 

Don Giovanni (Mozart): La ci darem la mano with Toti dal Monte  DA 5406 BA 4376    

Don Carlo (Verdi): Ella giammai m'amo   DB 5399 2ba4389 

Don Carlo (Verdi): Dormirò sol   DB 5399 2ba4390

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Crudeli! Perche finora with Toti Dal Monte  DA 5406 OBA 4391     

Esperanza Clasenti (Soprano) (Havana 1882 - Milano 1935)

Very young she went to Madrid, where in 1896 she studied piano at the Conservatory. She studied singing under Anthony Ponsini and with Melchiorre Vidal in Milan. She made her debut in 1900 at Spalato in ‘’Otello’’. After the withdrawal she devoted her to teaching and spent the last years in the Casa di Riposo G.Verdi in Milan.

 Chronology of some appearances

1900 Spalato Teatro Comunale Otello (Desdemona)

1902 Merida Teatro Municipal Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia)

1904 Bari  Teatro Petruzzelli Mignon (Filina) 1904                               

1906    Buenos Ayres Teatro Opera   Wally (Walter)

1908  Modena Teatro Municipale Rigoletto (Gilda)

1910    Buenos Ayres Teatro Opera   Mignon (Filina)

1912 Cremona Teatro Ponchielli Otello (Desdemona)

1914 Mantova Teatro Sociale Otello (Desdemona)

1916 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Traviata (Violetta)

1918 Verona Teatro Ristori  Rigoletto (Gilda)

1921 Cremona Politeama Verdi Rigoletto (Gilda)

1930 Saint Vincent Teatro del Casino Concert

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-01-11

Malaguena (Pagans)   39448 XPh1551

Linda di Chamounix (Donizetti): Ah bel destin with T.  Ferraris 39452  XPh1565

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-01-16

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Che soave zeffiretto with T.  Ferraris 39453  XPh1567

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-01-24

A Granada (Alvarez)  39456 XPh1582

Fonotipia, Milano 1906-03-06

Mignon (Thomas): Io son Titania 39502 XPh1682      

  

Almerico Stampanoni (Tenor)

He was active throughout Italy in the 1890s and first decade of the 1900s. In 1890 he appeard at the Teatro Alfieri as Fernando in ‘’Favorita’’. Then he sang in Teramo, Asti and Naples. In 1896 he made guest appearances in Warsaw singing at the Imperail Theatre. Then Stampanoni sang in Buenos Aires (1897) and Odessa (1899). In 1902 he went to Amsterdam and performed at the  Paleis Voor Volksvlijt. Here he appeared as Duca in ‘’Rigoletto’’. Probably he retired from the stage in 1908. His recordings, that he made for APGA are extremely rare.

Chronology of some appearances

1890 Asti  Teatro Alfieri  Fernando (Favorita0
1894 Teramo  Teatro Comunale  Faust (Faust)
1896 Varsavia  Teatro Imperiale Faust (Faust)
1897 Buenos Ayres Opera  Favorita (Fernando)
1899 Odessa  Teatro Municipale Manon (De Grieux)
1901 Bologna Teatro Duse Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1902 Amsterdam Paleis Voor Volksvlijt Rigoletto (Duca)
1907 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Favorita (Fernando)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

APGA Paris, 1906/7
Traviata (Verdi): Un di, felice 35087

Marinari (Rossini) with Gustavo De Bernal Rezky  35098
Pescatori di perle (Bizet): Dal tempio al limitar with Gustavo De Bernal Rezky  35099

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): O sole piu rapido with Gustavo De Bernal Rezky 35100

Carmen (Bizet): Ho nome Escamillo with Gustavo De Bernal Rezky 35101

Angelica Pandolfini (Soprano) (Spoleto 1871 - Lenno, Como 1959)

 

As the daughter of Francesco Pandolfini, she first studied the piano in Paris. She trained as a singer under Jules Massart and made her debut in Faust at Modena in 1894. Later that year in Malta she became associated with the new verismo operas, and was soon known throughout Italy as an outstanding Mimi. 1897 brought her debut at La Scala where, in 1902, she created the title role in Francesco Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur. She sang principally in Italy and was Darclee's successor in the role of  Tosca in both Milan and Rome. In 1892 Pandolfini created the title role in the world premiere of Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur. She developed quite a reputation in the verismo repertory but her voice was beginning to show some strain when she retired at the age of thirty-eight to be married (1909).

Chronology of some appearances

1894 La Valletta/Malta Teatro Reale Cavalleria Rusticana (Lola)

1896 Firenze Teatro Pagliano Boheme (Mimi)

1896 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Boheme (Mimi)

1897 Milano  Teatro La Scala Boheme (Mimi)

1897 Venezia  Teatro Rossini Boheme (Mimi)

1898 Il Cairo  Teatro Khediviale Boheme (Mimi)

1898 Alessandria d'Egitto  Teatro Zizinia Boheme (Mimi)

1901 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Mimi)

1902 Il Cairo  Teatro Khediviale Boheme (Mimi)

1902  Milano  Teatro Lirico Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1903 Trieste  Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1903 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1904 Buenos Ayres  Teatro dell'Opera Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1905 Alessandria d'Egitto  Teatro Zizinia Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1905 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1907 Venezia  Teatro La Fenice  Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

COMPLETE RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Milano 1903-10

Chanson de Florian (Godard) 53333 Con364

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Deh vieni non tardar 053037 Con718

All'ombra di quel faggio (Taubert) 053038 Con719

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea): Io sono l'umile ancella  53340 Con371

Mefistofele (Boito): L'altra notte 053044 Con735

Ercole Omodei (Baritone) (Catania 1882 - Milano 1953)

He studied singing under Casalressi and made his debut in 1906 at Teatro Sociale of Pieve di Cento in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1906 Pieve di Cento Teatro Sociale Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1910 Cagliari Teatro Civico Boheme (Marcello)

1913 Sassari  Politeama Verdi Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1917 Piacenza Politeama Traviata (Germont)

1920 Alessandria Teatro Virginia Marini Boheme (Marcello)

1922 San Paolo Teatro Santana Aida (Amonasro)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1910?

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Finale, act 3, pt 1 with Gherlinzoni, Rossato & Migliardi D9239 10916

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Finale, act 3, pt 2 with Gherlinzoni, Rossato & Migliardi D9239 10917

Zaza (Leoncavallo): Zaza piccola zingara D9243 10908

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Enzo Grimaldo, Principe di Santafior with Gino Martinez-Patti D9246 10925

Gioconda (Ponchielli): O grido di quest'anima with Gino Martinez-Patti  D9246 10926
Bohème (Puccini): O Mimì tu più non torni with Edgardo Gherlinzoni D9263 10920

Lyrophon, Milano 1911/1912?

Rigoletto (Verdi): Un di se ben rammentomi...Bella figlia dell'amore with  Lorenzo Oggero, Albertina Cassani, and Nelda Garroni  J544

Valeria Manna (Soprano) (Pesaro 1897 - Bologna 1974)

She studied at the Pesaro Conservatory and made her debut in 1916 at the Teatro Comunale of Catanzaro in ‘’Trovatore’’. She had a significant career in the Italian provincial opera houses during the 1920s. In 1926 she made guest appearance at the festival in the arena of Verona; she gave guest performances in Alessandria, Philadephia and South America. After end of her carrier she lived as a pedagogue in Bologna; the known tenor Gianni Poggi belonged to her pupils.

Chronology of some appearances

1916 Catanzaro Teatro Comunale Trovatore (Leonora)

1917 Alessandria Teatro Municipale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1918 Alessandria Teatro Municipale Tosca (Tosca)

1919 Genova   Politeama Genovese Aida (Aida)

1924 Modena Teatro Municipale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1926 Parma Teatro Regio Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)

1928 Montecatini Teatro Trianon Stagione

1931 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli  Gioconda (Gioconda)

1934 Rivarolo Teatro Ligure  Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)

1935 Sampierdarena  Teatro Gustavo Modena Tosca (Tosca)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonografia Nazionale, Milano 192? (ac)
Tosca (Verdi) Non la sospiri la nostra casetta with Ettore Bergamaschi 4605
Aida (Verdi) Ciel! Mio padre with Apollo Granforte  2019
Aida (Verdi) Su dunque sorgete with Apollo Granforte 2020

Aida (Verdi): Pur ti riveggo with Ettore Bergamaschi  2021

Aida (Verdi): Fuggiam gli ardori with Ettore Bergamaschi 2022

Aida (Verdi): Aida ove son io? with Ettore Bergamaschi 2025

Aida (Verdi): O terra addio with  Ettore Bergamaschi 2026

Aida (Verdi): Sacerdote io resto a te with Granforte & Bergamaschi Dr4719
Aida (Verdi): Io son disonorato  with Granforte & Bergamaschi Dr4720
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Tu qui Santuzza with Ettore Bergamaschi 2059
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Fior di giaggiolo with Ettore Bergamaschi &
Anna Gramegna 2060
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): No no Turiddu with Ettore Bergamaschi 2061

Angelo Scandiani (Baritone) (Venezia 1872 – Milan 1930)

At first he was an employee in the civil service. Around 1900 he began his singing career in smaller Italian stages. In 1903 he sang the role of Amfortas in a concert performance of the ‘’Parsifal’’ at La Scala (probably only 3-rd act). On 30. 11. 1904 he appeared at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele, Turin in the premiere of Alfano’s ‘’Risurrezione’’. In the first decade of the 20th century Scandiani made guest appearances at Covent Garden, London where from 1906-08 performed in ‘’Carmen’’, ‘’Faust’’, in different Verdi's operas, as a partner of Emmy Destinn in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’. In 1911 he was a member of the Nellie Melba’s opera troupe, which made appearances in Australia. In 1916 he sang at La Scala the role of Lothario in ‘’Mignon’’ together with Ninon Vallin. The same year he guested at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires as Hans Sachs in the ‘’Meistersingers’’. He was also known as an interpreter of the part of the Mefistofele in ‘’La damnation de Faust’’ written by Berlioz. From 1919-30 he was active in the administrative apparatus of  La Scala.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Trieste Teatro Verdi Siberia (Gleby)

1903 Trieste Teatro Verdi Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

1903 Novara Teatro Coccia Favorita (Alfonso)

1904 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

1904 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1905 Odessa Teatro Municipale Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

1905 Odessa Teatro Municipale Tannhauser (Wolfram)

1905 Firenze Teatro della Pergola Favorita (Alfonso)

1905 Mirandola  Teatro Nuovo Gioconda (Barnaba)

1905 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Tosca (Scarpia)

1906 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1906 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1906 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Otello (Jago)

1907 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

1907 Londra Covent Garden Boheme (Marcello)

1907 Londra Covent Garden Carmen (Escamilio)

1910 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Marcello)

1910 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1910 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

1910 Trieste Teatro Verdi Manon Lescaut (Lescaut)

1911 Sidney Her Majestic's Boheme (Marcello)

1911 Sidney Her Majestic's Lohengrin (Tetralmondo)

1911 Sidney Her Majestic's Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1911 Melbourne His Majesty's Otello (Jago)

1914 Novara Teatro Coccia Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

1916 Milano Teatro alla Scala Mignon (Laerte)

COMPLETE RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Edison 4-min cylinders, Milano 1910?

Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Su queste rose 7523, BA 22444

Tannhauser (Wagner): O tu bell'astro  7546, BA 22467