Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Jan 6, 2012

Dante Del Papa (Tenor) (Pisa 1854 - New York 1923)




He studied at first in Lucca, then at the Milan Conservatory with A. Mazzucato. He made his stage debut in 1879 at the Teatro Mariani in Ravenna as Duke in ‘’Rigoletto’’. In 1882 he performed at the Teatro Politeama Genovese in Genoa as Faust in Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’; then he sang in many Italian theaters, among other things in Livorno, Firenze, Ferrara, Bologna, Pisa etc. In 1883 he made guest appearance at the Teatro Della Pergola in Firenze in  ‘’I Promessi Sposi’’ of Ponchielli. In 1884 he appeared with great success at the Teatro Comunale in Ferrara as Faust in Boito’s ‘’Mefistofele’’, then sang in Zagreb, Croatia. In 1885 Del Papa performed at the Teatro Rossini in Livorno as José in ‘’Carmen’’. In 1896 he appeared in Alexandria, Egypt. In 1887 he sang at the Teatro Regio in Turin again as José and as Nadir in ''I pescatori di perle’’ of Bizet; as Jose in ‘’Carmen’’ Del Papa also sang in 1888 at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona. Impresario Strakosch engaged him in the season1891-92 for stage appearances in Spain. In 1894 he came to USA and appeared on the opera stages of New York, Philadephia and Boston. Approximately in 1895 he finished his career and then  taught singing in New  York.

Chronology of some appearances

1879 Ravenna Teatro Mariani Rigoletto (Duca)
1882 Genoa Teatro Politeama Genovese Faust (Faust)
1883 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola  I Promessi Sposi di A.Ponchielli (Renzo)
1884 Ferrara Teatro Comunale Faust (Faust)
1885 Livorno Teatro Rossini Mignon (Guglielmo)
1887 Turin Teatro Regio Carmen (Don Jose)
1888 Barcelona Teatro Liceo Carmen (Don Jose)
1890 Milano Teatro Manzoni Beatrice di Tenda (Orombello)
1892 Malaga Teatro Cervantes Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1894 New York Grand Opera House Carmen (Don Jose)
1895 Boston Opera House Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1897 New York Weber Hall Concerto
1900 New York Carnegie Hall Concerto
1903 New York Princess Theater Concerto
1915 New York Century Opera House Concerto

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 






Bettini cylinders, New York 1897 - 1899
Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): Guai se ti sfugge un moto with Rosalia Chalia and Alberto De Bassini  3
Mignon (Thomas): Ah! Non credevi tu  5
Martha (Flotow): Perche, sola vergine rosa with Rosalia Chalia Bettini 13
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 20
Carmen (Bizet): Ti baciava mia madre with Gina Ciaparelli 
Guglielmo Tell (Rossini): Troncar suoi di with Alberto De Bassini and Vittorio Girardi 
Aida (Verdi): Nel fiero anelito with Gina Ciaparelli 
Aida (Verdi): Morir si pura e bella...O terra addio with Gina Ciaparelli 
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Non sai tu… O qual soave brivido with Gina Ciaparelli 
Forza del destino (Verdi): Ah! per sempre with Gina Ciaparelli
Martha (Flotow): Il suo sguardo e dolce incanto with Gina Ciaparelli 
Traviata (Verdi): Parigi, o cara with Gina Ciaparelli 


3 comments:

  1. MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you for sharing this Valuable Biographical information.

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  2. Dante Del Papa is my great grandfather. Wonderful to see there is continued interest in his and other period opera singers.

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