Giuseppe Taccani (Tenor) (Milan 1885 - Milan 1959)

He studied in Milan with the great baritone Lelio Casini and debuted in 1904 at the Sociale of Lecco in ‘’Manon Lescaut’’. In 1905 he appeared at the Politeama Azeglio in Bologna as Milio in ‘’Zaza’’. Then he guested in Havana. He had a successful career in Italy. In 1908 he sang at the Teatro Regio in Turin and at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 1906 he appeared in Genoa in the premiere of the opera ‘’Hermes’’ of Attilio Parelli. In 1908 He performed at the Politeama Argentino in Buenos Aires, in 1910 at the Teatro Khevidiale of Cairo. In the 1908-1909 season he belonged to the ensemble of the Manhattan Opera House in New York. In 1911 he made guest appearance at Teatro Regio in Parma as Enzo in ‘’La Gioconda’’ of Ponchielli. In 1913 he performed at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in the premieres of the operas ‘’L'Arabesca’’ of Domenico Monleone and ‘’La Leggenda delle sette Torri’’ of Alberto Gasco. In 1923 he appeared at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples in the premiere of Mario Persico’s opera ‘’Morenita’’. In 1930 he made guest appearance in Holland; in 1929 he performed at the Teatro San Carlo in  Naples in the premiere of the opera ‘’Don of Giovanni’’ of Felice Lattuada. In spite of his great success in all major stages in Italy he never sang at La Scala in Milan. Only in 1931 he sang there, alternating with Francesco Merli the role of Radames in Vedi’s ‘’Aida’’. In the second part of his career he also appeared in Wagner's repertoire (Tannhäuser, Siegfried). Already in 1925 he appeared at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples as Tannhäuser, in 1933 in Venice, at the Teatro La Fenice as Siegfried in Wagner’s ‘’Siegfried’’. He had a very long career that finished in 1949 with a performance of ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’ at the Sociale of Savigliano. After retiring he opened a singing school.

Chronology of some appearances

1911 Teatro Regio Parma La Gioconda with Ernestina Poli-Randaccio (Gioconda), Ida Zizolfi (cieca), Ninì Frascani (Laura) and José Segura Tallien (Barnaba).

1912 Teatro Costanzi  Roma "La Wally"  with Ersilde Cervi-Caroli (Wally), Enrichetta Graziani (Walter), Gabriella Besanzoni (Afra), Renzo Minolfi (Vincenzo Gellner), Giulio Cirino (Stromminger) and Giorgio Schottler (pedone di Schnals).

1913 Teatro Donizetti Bergamo "Isabeau" with Gilda Dalla Rizza (Isabeau), Maria Leonardi (Ermyntrude), Clotilde Amadei (Ermyngarde), Giulia Martinengo (Giglietta), Giuseppe Montanelli (re Raimondo) and Luigi Baldassarre (Faidit/araldo).

1914 Teatro Regio Parma "Manon Lescaut" with Claudia Muzio (Manon), Luigi Rossi-Morelli (Lescaut) and Silvio Queirolo (Geronte).

1915 Teatro Donizetti Bergamo "La Gioconda" with Maria Baldini (Gioconda), Emilia Rubaldi (cieca), Adele Ponzano (Laura), Giuseppe Bellantoni (Barnaba) and Vincenzo Bettoni (Alvise).

1920 Teatro Regio Torino "Dejanice" with Toti Dal Monte (Argelia), Ester Mazzoleni (Dejanice), Edoardo Faticanti (Dardano) and Luciano Donaggio (Labdaco).

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

G&T, Milano 1907
Albatro (Pacchierotti): Romanza di Erik (orch: Pacchierotti) 2-52591 10628b 
Albatro (Pacchierotti): Serenata interna di Erik (orch: Pacchierotti) 2-52590 10629b
Hermes (Parelli): Finale ultimo with Ida Giacomelli & Francesco Cigada (orch: Parelli) 054140 1254c
Hermes (Parelli): Si, io t'amo with Carmen Melis (orch: Parelli) 054138 1253c 
Albatro (Pacchierotti): La fata sei with Carmen Melis (orch: Pacchierotti) 054137 1255c 
Albatro (Pacchierotti): L'albatro teco with Carmen Melis (orch: Pacchierotti) 054136 1247c 
Jana (Virgilio): Sì, dannato morrò (orch: Virgilio) 2-52587 10672b 
Hermes (Parelli): Se alcuna tregua (orch: Parelli)  2-52589 10637b 
Hermes (Parelli): Miriam, fa core (orch: Parelli)  2-52588 10635b 

Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-24

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 39997 Xph 2362

Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-01
Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Ah! Manon, mi tradisce 92491 XPh3870

Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-02

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): No! Pagliacio non son 92490 Xph 3873

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Guardate! pazzo son' io with Pasquale Amato 92492 Xph3875

Forza del destino (Verdi): Le minaccie with Pasquale  Amato 92495 XPh3876
Forza del destino (Verdi): Se I rimorsi with Pasquale Amato 92496 XPh3877

Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-04
Germania (Franchetti): Syudenti! Udite, o voi 92493 XPh3883

Edison 2-min cylinders, 1912?

Mefistofele (Boito): Giunto sul passo test, unpubl 44604

HMV, Milano 1921-05-23

Ernani (Verdi): O sommo Carlo with Janina de Vitt and Mattia Battistini DB216 2-052205

Columbia, Milano 1924/1925 (ac)

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Hai tradito il ciel D5362 B625

Carmen (Bizet): Il fior D5362 B640

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Donna non vidi mai D5364 B641

Trovatore (Verdi): Ah! si, ben mio D5361 B646

Columbia, Milano 1927-09?

Guglielmo Ratcliff (Mascagni): Ombra esecrata D12278 WB 1549

Silvano (Mascagni): S'e spento il sol D12278 WB1550

Columbia, Milano 1928

Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira  D1958-M WB1976-2

Trovatore (Verdi): Deserto sulla terra 1958-M WB1977

Carmen (Bizet): Duetto finale act 4, pt 2 with Maria Capuana CQX16554 WBX273

Carmen (Bizet): Duetto finale act 4, pt 1 with Maria Capuana CQX16554 WBX275

Guglielmo Ratcliff (Mascagni): Quando fanciulla ancora  D14464 WBX277

Gioconda (Ponchielli):  Cielo e mar D14466 WBX 283

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Improvviso  D14466  WB 282 

Columbia, Milano

Complete Rigoletto (Verdi) with Cesare Formichi, Ines Ferraris and Vincenzo Bettoni