Giuseppe Opezzo (Tenor) (Stoppiana /Vercelli 1878 - ?)

 

He made his debut in 1900 at the Teatro Sociale of Pallanza in ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’. The next year Opezzo performed at the Teatro Rossi in Pisa as Roberto in ‘’Congedo’’. In 1905 he made guest appearance in Barcelona, where at the Teatro Tivoli he sang the role of Radames in ‘’Aida’’. In 1906 he arrived in Odessa and sang there  in ‘’Aida’’ and  ‘’Trovatore’’. In 1908 Opezzo went to USA singing in Philadelphia and Washington. The same year, he was in Alessandria, where he performed at the Teatro Parisiana. In 1914 he agan sang in USA, this time in Boston. He sang also in Mexico City. It happened in 1918. Probably he retired from the stage in 1920.

Chronology of some appearances

1900 Pallanza Teatro Sociale Lucia di Lammermoor (Edgardo)

1901 Pisa Teatro Rossi Congedo (Roberto)

1905 Barcelona Teatro Tivoli Aida (Radames)

1906 Odessa Trovatore (Manrico)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Trovatore:  Desserto sulla terra Columbia D 5525 11148

Trovatore:  Di quella pira Columbia D 5525 11149

Germania: Studenti udite Columbia E2081 11363

Norma: Mecco all'altar Columbia D 5525 11147

Norma: Me protegge Columbia D 5525 11150

Pagliacci: No pagliaccio non son Columbia D9257 10989

Giuseppe Paganelli (Tenor) (Forli 1882 - Cape Town 1956)

Displaying exceptional gifts at an early age, Giuseppe Paganelli learned to play the cornet during his school years, and obtained a professional diploma at a music school in Venice at the age of seventeen. In 1902 he enrolled at the Academia de Santa Cecilia in Rome and studied the theory of music and composition, until his harmony lecturer advised him to study voice production with the famous teacher, Antonio Cotogni. He was accepted as a student and trained for four years. After an Academy concert he was engaged by a Roman concert impresario to sing the tenor role in The Barber of Seville, and subsequently scored one opera success after another in Italy, North and South America, Greece, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. In 1926 he accompanied the Sistine Chapel Choir as a solo tenor on a world tour. After their successful performance in Cape Town, Prof. W. H. Bell offered him the position of singing master and opera producer at the S.A. College of Music. He accepted and his first presentation was The barber of Seville, in which he and Timothy Farrell sang the leading roles. This was followed by other operas like Don Pasquale, La traviata, The secret marriage (Cimarosa), The marriage of Figaro and La sonnambula (Bellini). He was seriously ill in 1945; shortly afterwards he composed a passion-play based on Da Vinci’s Last supper, which he directed, with Dirk Lourens singing the tenor role. Among his students were his wife Eva Gain, and the soprano Albina Bini, who regularly took part in his productions. After the Second World War, Fiasconaro joined the College as an instructor in singing and started a school of opera under the supervision of Prof. E. Chisholm, thus continuing Paganelli’s pioneering work.

http://ancestry24.com/giuseppe-paganelli/

Chronology of some appearances

1905 Milan  Teatro Fossati  Don Pasquale (Malatesta)

1906 Venezia  Teatro Rossini Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1907 Forli Teatro  Comunale  Don Pasquale (Ernesto)

1908 Genova Teatro Margherita Don Pasquale (Ernesto)

1909 Caracas Teatro Municipal Favorita (Fernando)

1910 Milano Teatro Lirico Mignon (Guglielmo)

1911 Puerto Rico Teatro Municipal Manon (De Grieux)

1912 Cinfuegos Teatro Municipal Rigoletto (Duca)

1913 Torino Teatro Regio Don Pasquale (Ernesto)

1914 Havana Teatro Payret Favorita (Fernando)

1915 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Don Pasquale (Ernesto)

1916 Parma Teatro Regio Favorita (Fernando)

1917 Modena Teatro Storchi Mignon (Guglielmo)

1918 Milano Teatro Lirico Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1919 Bologna Teatro Apollo Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1920 Pesaro Teatro Rossini Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1921 Cairo Kursaal Dalbagni Sonnambula (Elvino)

1922 Cairo Kursaal Dalbagni Mignon (Guglielmo)

1923 Roma Teatro Nazionale Matrimonio segreto (Paolino)

1924 Catania Teatro Bellini Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Favorita: Spirto gentil Columbia D4545

Mignon:  Ah, non credevi tu Columbia D 4460

Roberto Vanni (Tenor) (Milan 1861 –1941)

Probably he made his debut in 1885 at the Teatro Comunale of Ferrara as Macduff in ‘’Macbeth’’. From 1889 to 1891 he made guest appearances in Montevideo appearing in ‘’Aida’’, ‘’Africana’’, ‘’Mefistofele’’, ‘’Rigoletto’’ and ‘’Fra’ Diavolo’’.  In 1893 Vanni sang at the Teatro Doria in Buenos Aires. Here he performed in ‘’Ruy Blas’’, ‘’Faust’’, ‘’Falastaff’’ and ‘’Pagliacci’’. He sang with Henry Abbey's Italian Grand Opera Company, starring Patti and Tamagno, on tour in 1889-90. At the Metropolitan Opera for seven seasons, he made his debut as the Fisherman in ''William Tell''. November 21, 1894. In 1902-03, his last season, he appeared sixty-eight times between Roderigo in the opening-night ''Otello'', on November 24, and Vogelgesang in the ''Meistersinger'' that closed the tour on April 25 in Pittsburgh. His other roles that season were the Sergeant in ''Barbiere di Siviglia'', the Messenger in ''Aida'', Gaston in ''Traviata'', Borsa in ''Rigoletto'', a Peasant and a Herald in ''Prophète'', Alcindoro and Parpignol in ''Bohème'', De Cossé in ''Huguenots'', Remendado in ''Carmen'', Don Riccardo in ''Ernani'', a Servant in ''Ballo in maschera'', a Priest in The ''Magic Flute'', the Notary in ''Don Pasquale'', and Ruiz in ''Trovatore''. He was paid $40 per week, $880 for the season.

Chronology of some appearances

1885 Ferrara Teatro Comunale Macbeth (Macduff)

1889 Montevideo Teatro Ciblis Aida (Messaggero)

1891 Montevideo Teatro Solis Rigoletto (Duca)

1893 Buenos Aires Teatro Doria Ruy Blas (Ruy Blas)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Otello (Verdi): Esultate & Sante memorie Bettini cylinder

Ernani (Verdi): O sommo Carlo (2 excerpts) with Sembrich, Bauermeister, de Marchi, Scotti, E de Reszke, Begue and chorus Mapleson cylinders

Aida (Verdi): Su! del Nilo with Gadski, Homer, de Marchi, Journet, Muhlmann and chorus Mapleson cylinder

Non e ver (Mattei) Columbia 1231

Guido Volpi (Tenor) (Cremona 1889 - 1944)

He studied in Cremona with Federico Caduana and in Milan with Arturo Cadore. He made his debut in 1913 at the Teatro Sociale of  Trino Vercellese in ‘’Sonnambula’’. Volpi’s career was relegated to appearances in provincial theatres (Cuneo. Teatro Toselli ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’ 1919, Lecce. Politeama Greco ‘’Traviata’’ 1920). In 1925 he guested at the Teatro Municipale of Piacenza where he sang the role of Rodolfo in ‘’La Bohème’’. The next year, at the same theatre he performed as Shuisky in ‘’Boris Godunov’’. Guest performances led him to South America (Caracas, Panama) and Paris (Teatro Champs Elysees). He retired from the stage in 1933.

Chronology of some appearances

1913 Trino Vercellese Teatro Sociale Sonnambula (Elvino)

1919 Cuneo Teatro Toselli Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)

1920 Lecce Politeama Greco Traviata (Alfredo)

1925 Piacenza Teatro Municipale Bohème (Rodolfo)

1926 Piacenza Teatro Municipale Boris Godunov (Shuisky)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Rigoletto: Ella mi fu rapita…Parmi veder le lagrime     

Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai Dominion B19 1414

L'arlesiana: E' la solita storia    

Manon: Il sogno Dominion

Mefistofele: Giunto sul passo estremo Dominion  B19 1409

Mefistofele: Dai campi, dai prati Dominion  B19  1407

Manon: Sogno Fonografia Nazionale  5275    

Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai  Fonografia Nazionale 5407       

Adriana Lecouvreur: L 'anima ho stanca  Dominion B 25  1421

Tosca: E lucevan le stelle  Fonografia Nazionale  5408   

Boheme: Che gelida manina     Fonografia Nazionale  5405   

L'amico Fritz: Duetto delle ciliegie  with Olga Poletti Fonografia Nazionale 5273, 5274    

La Traviata: Parigi, o cara  with Olga Poletti Fonografia Nazionale 5286   

Manon: A Parigi noi andrem  with Olga Poletti Fonografia Nazionale 5276   

La Traviata: Libiamo with Olga Poletti Fonografia Nazionale 5285?

Fedora: Amor ti vieta Fonografia Nazionale  5284   

Fedora: Amor ti vieta Dominion  B 25 1422

Rigoletto: Ella mi fu rapita…Parmi veder le lagrime Fonografia Nazionale 5265, 5266

Manon Lescaut: Donna non vi di mai Dominion B19    

Mario Ancona (Baritone) (Livorno 1860 - Florence 1931)

Originally, he studied social sciences and law, and became a diplomat. However, after vocal studies, he made his debut as Scindia (Roi de Lahore) in Trieste in 1890 and his debut at La Scala as the King (Le Cid) in 1890. He created Silvio in Pagliacci at the Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, in 1892 and the same year sang Alphonse (La favorite) at the New Olympic Theatre, London. Also sang for 17 seasons at Covent Garden starting in 1892. He made his Met debut in 1893, and in three seasons sang 91 performances of 17 roles. He also appeared with the Manhattan Opera (1906-08), in Boston (1913-14), Chicago (1915-16), Paris, Lisbon, Barcelona, Warsaw, and Buenos Aires. Ancona appeared in a wide repertory embracing W. A. Mozart ( Don Giovanni , Figaro), Giuseppe Verdi (Germont, Rigoletto, Renato, Amonasro, Iago, Don Carlo in Ernani), Richard Wagner (Wolfram, Telramund, Hans Sachs), Giacomo Puccini (Lescaut, Marcello), Pietro Mascagni (Alfio, David in L'amico Fritz) and many French roles, including Nevers (Les Huguenots), Escamillo and Valentin (Faust). After retirement in 1916, he taught in Florence, Italy.. Ancona, in his singing, coupled old-fashioned  elegance with an effortless technique. He was undoubtedly one of the most important baritones of his period.

Chronology of some appearances

1890 Livorno Teatro Goldoni Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1892 Catania Teatro Bellini Carmen (Escamilio)

1892 Catania Teatro Bellini Ernani (Don Carlo)

1893 Mantova Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1897 New York Metropolitan Opera Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1898 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1898 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ernani (Don Carlo)

1899 London Covent Garden Boheme (Marcello)

1902 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1902 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Ernani (Don Carlo)

1902 Buenos Aires Opera Ernani (Don Carlo)

1902 Buenos Aires Opera Favorita (Alfonso)

1902 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Ernani (Don Carlo)

1903 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ernani (Don Carlo)

1904 Madrid Teatro Reale Ernani (Don Carlo)

1904 Madrid Teatro Reale Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1904 Madrid Teatro Reale Favorita (Alfonso)

1904 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1904 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Marcello)

1904 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Favorita (Alfonso)

1905 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Don Carlo (Rodrigo)

1906 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1906 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1906 New York Manhattan Opera Carmen (Escamilio)

1907 New York Manhattan Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1907 New York Manhattan Opera House Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1907 New York Manhattan Opera House Ernani (Don Carlo)

1907 Parigi Casa de Reszke Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1909 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1913 Boston Opera House Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1914 Parigi Teatro Champs Elysees Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1914 Boston Opera House Boheme (Marcello)

1914 Parigi Teatro Champs Elysees Boheme (Marcello)

1915 Torino Teatro Regio Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1915 Chicago Civic Opera House Boheme (Marcello)

1917 Firenze  Teatro Verdi Favorita (Alfonso)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

PATHE

L'heure exquise (Hahn) Pathe 4305

Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Su queste rose Pathe 4323

Rigoletto (Verdi): Pari siamo Pathe  4326

Rigoletto (Verdi): Cortigiani, vil razza dannata Pathe 4322

Trovatore (Verdi): Il balen Pathe 4319

EDISON

La Favorita (Donizetti): A tanto amor Edison B. 50

Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Nobil dama, nobil dama! Edison B. 41

COMPLETE VICTOR

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Un di m'era di gioia Victor  88170 C6045-1

Dinorah (Meyerbeer): Sei vendicata assai Victor 88169 C6044-1

Serenade de Don Juan (Tchaikovsky) Victor  88168 C6057-1

Invano (Tosti) Victor  87011 B4397-2

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Eri tu Victor 88081 C4369-1

Rigoletto (Verdi): Tutte le feste with Bessie Abott Victor 89013 C4991-2

Pecheurs de perles (Bizet): Del tempio al limitar with Enrico Caruso Victor 89007 C4327-1

Rigoletto (Verdi): Si, vendetta with Bessie Abott Victor 87500 B4993-2

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Si puo? Si puo? Victor  88055 C4271-1

Otello (Verdi): Era la notte Victor 87015 B4971-2

Mia sposa sara la mia bandiera (Rotoli) Victor 88167 C6057-1

Mattinata (Tosti) (orch acc) Victor 87010 B4396-1

Traviata (Verdi): Di Provenza Victor 87006 B4273-2

Favorita (Donizetti): A tanto amor Victor 88063 C4286-2

Invano! (Tosti) Victor 87011 B4397-2

Puritani (Bellini): Suoni la tromba with Marcel Journet Victor 88500 C4285-2

Puritani (Bellini): Ah! Per sempre Victor 87014 B4970-2

Faust (Gounod): Non val, non val (Morte di Valentino) Victor 88109 C4992-1

Faust (Gounod): Dio possente Victor 88056 C4272-2

Ernani (Verdi): O de' verd'anni miei Victor 88062 C4284-1

Guy Cazenave (Tenor) (Hasparren/Bayonne (Lapurdi) 1883 - Algiers 1937)

He made debut at the Grand Opéra in ‘’Aida’’ (1912). Then he appeared there also in  ‘’Samsón and Dalila’’. Three years later at the same theatre he sang in ‘’Henry VIII’’ and ‘’Ascanio’’ of Saint-Saëns and ‘’Hérodiade’’ of Massenet. At the Opera Comique he performed in ‘’Tosca’’ and ‘’Pagliacci’’ (1928). Also he sang at the theaters of Marseilles, Nice and Lyons. When he retired from the stage, he devoted himself to teaching and to his business in Algiers. Probably he was killed there.

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

La Reine de Saba: Faiblesse de la race humaine… Inspirez-moi, race divine Gramophone 4-32776,  4-32777, BTR 3127-2, BTR 3128-2

Le Trouvere: Exile sur la terre Disque Idéal 7265

Celestino Sarobe (Baritone) (Orio, Guipuzcoa / province, Spain 1892 - Barcelona, Spain 1952)

His real name was Celestino Aguirre Sarobe Zadarain. He studied at first medicine, then, however, started to study singing and performed in concerts. The famous baritone Mattia Battistini heard him and invited him to Rome where he gave lessons to him. Sarobe made his debut in 1918 at the Teatro Liceo of Barcelona in ‘’Favorita’’ of Donizetti. In 1919 Spanish soprano Maria Llacer engaged him in her opera troop with which he undertook an Italy tour. In 1925 he sang at the Teatro Regio in Turin the role of Fanuele in ‘’Nerone’’ of Boito under the direction of Toscanini. After his retirement from stage he taught singing.

Chronology of some appearances

1918 Barcelona  Teatro Liceo Favorita (Alfonso)

1919 Valencia  Teatro Apollo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1919 Valencia  Teatro Apollo Tannhauser (Wolfram)

1919 Milano Teatro Lirico Favorita (Alfonso)

1920 Genova  Politeama Genovese Gioconda (Barnaba)

1920 Lisbon  Teatro San Carlo Puritani (Riccardo)

1920 Lisbon  Teatro San Carlo Tosca (Scarpia)

1920 Lisbon  Teatro San Carlo Traviata (Germont)

1920 Genova  Politeama Genovese Ernani (Don Carlo)

1920 Genova  Politeama Genovese Tosca (Scarpia)

1920 Genova  Politeama Genovese Traviata (Germont)

1921 Bologna Teatro Comunale Loreley (Hermann)

1921 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Tosca (Scarpia)

1921 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Traviata (Germont)

1921 Milano Teatro Carcano Tosca (Scarpia)

1921 Milano Teatro Carcano Traviata (Germont)

1922 San Sebastian Teatro Victoria Eugenia Favorita (Alfonso)

1922 San Sebastian Teatro Victoria Eugenia Traviata (Germont)

1922 Barcelona  Teatro Liceo Favorita (Alfonso)

1922 Barcelona Teatro Liceo Pagliacci (Tonio)

1922 Torino Teatro Regio Puritani (Riccardo)

1922 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Favorita (Alfonso)

1922 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Tosca (Scarpia)

1922 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Traviata (Germont)

1922 San Sebastian Teatro Victoria Eugenia Tosca (Scarpia)

1923 Valencia Teatro Principal Favorita (Alfonso)

1923 Napoli  Teatro Mercadante Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1924 Madrid Teatro Reale Favorita (Alfonso)

1924 Madrid  Teatro Reale Otello (Jago)

1924 Madrid  Teatro Reale Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1924 Madrid  Teatro Reale Tosca (Scarpia)

1924 Madrid  Teatro Reale Traviata (Germont)

1924 Trieste Teatro Verdi Tosca (Scarpia)

1925 Torino Teatro Regio Favorita (Alfonso)

1925 Torino Teatro Regio Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1925 Ginevra Grand Theatre Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1925 Ginevra Grand Theatre Tosca (Scarpia)

1925 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Tannhauser (Wolfram)

1926 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Tosca (Scarpia)

1926 Il Cairo  Kursaal Dalbagni Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1926 Il Cairo  Kursaal Dalbagni Tosca (Scarpia)

1926 Valencia Teatro Principal Favorita (Alfonso)

1926 Il Cairo Kursaal Dalbagni Favorita (Alfonso)

1926 Palma di Majorca  Teatro Principal Favorita (Alfonso)

1926 Padova Teatro Verdi Tannhauser (Wolfram)

1927 Cannes Opera Tosca (Scarpia)

1935 Madrid  Teatro Calderon Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1935 Madrid  Teatro Reale Tosca (Scarpia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Otello (Verdi): Credo Polydor J22209  785Bi I

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Prologo Polydor J22208  786Bi I

Traviata (Verdi): Di Provenza Polydor J22210  787Bi I

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Figlia di Regi Polydor  bJ22211

La Paloma (Yradier) Polydor 62676 438 BT