Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Oct 20, 2011

Gina Ciaparelli-Viafora (Soprano) (Novara 1881 - New York 1936)


                                  Gina Ciaparelli-Viafora (seated) and Evelyn Herbert

She studied at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia  in Rome with M. Falchi and began her career in Italy under her real name Gina Ciaparelli. Probably her debut occurred in 1894 at the Teatro Nuova Fenice in Osimo. In 1907 she moved her to the USA. After she had married there conductor Viafora, she began to appear on the stage as Gina Viafora. In 1910 she guested at the Metropolitan opera, New York as Mimi in ‘’La Bohème’’ together with Enrico Caruso as Rodolfo. Later she opened in New York a singing school.

Chronology of some appearances

1894 Osimo Teatro Nuova Fenice Carmen (Micaela)
1908 Novi Ligure Politeama Marenco Ballo in Maschera (Ulrica)
1909 Pisa Teatro Rossi Ballo in Maschera (Ulrica)
1910 Terni Politeama Ballo in Maschera (Ulrica)
1911 Catanzaro Teatro Comunale Manon Lescaut (Musico)


RECORDINGS FOR SALE


 






Bettini cylinders, New York 1900?
Carmen (Bizet): Ti baciava mia madre with Dante Del Papa 
Aida (Verdi): Nel fiero anelito with Dante Del Papa 
Aida (Verdi): Morir si pura e bella...O terra addio with Dante Del Papa
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Non sai tu…O qual soave brivido with Dante Del Papa
Forza del Destino (Verdi): Ah! per sempre 
Martha (Flotow): Il suo sguardo e dolce incanto 
Aida (Verdi): Ed in suo potere io sto…Rivedrai le foreste with Alberto De Bassini 

Traviata (Verdi): Parigi, o cara with Dante Del Papa
Ruy Blas (Marchetti): Duetto Maria – Sallustio with Alberto De Bassini

Columbia, Milano 1905?
Carmen (Bizet): Mia madre with Jose Garcia 10469 10469

Columbia, New York 1905?
Trovatore (Verdi): Mira d'acerbe with Taurino Parvis (orch) 3524
Carmen (Bizet): Habanera 3144 E441
Addio (Tosti) 3274 3038

Columbia, New York 1906
Don Giovanni (Mozart): La ci darem la mano with Taurino Parvis A 5026 30030
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo)
: Duetto Nedda-Tonio with  Taurino Parvis  30035 A5011
Morremo (attr Mozart) with Taurino Parvis A528
Ernani (Verdi) Da quel dì with Taurino Parvis 30032, A5025

Columbia, Milano 1907?
Lombardi (Verdi): Qual voluttа with Oreste Mieli and Augusto Dado 10631
Forza del destino (Verdi): Terzetto wth Dadò & Mieli 10630 E104
Rigoletto (Verdi): Quartetto with Mieli, Baldassare & Correa 10633

Victor, New York 1908-03-10
Boheme (Puccini): Addio, dolce svegliare with Geraldine Farrar, Enrico Caruso, Antonio Scotti 96003 C6025-1

Victor, Camden 1908-05-14
Boheme (Puccini): Mi chiamano Mimi  Unpubl. C6196-1
Boheme (Puccini): Musetta Waltz 64085 

4 comments:

  1. merci je cherchais depuis longtemps sa biographie
    alain ETIENNE France
    kittyamore@orange.fr

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tanks a lot. Ciaparelli came to Montréal (Canada), singing at Sohmer Park in 1904 and 1905, for popular concerts in open air. She was appreciated by a large public.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fascinating - I was seeking information on this singer, whose voice I know only from the Boheme quartet with Caruso
    David, London

    ReplyDelete