Elvira Casazza (Mezzo-Soprano) (Ferrara 1887 - Milano 1965)

She was born Elivra Mari in Ferrara and studied in Milan with Adele Borghi before making her operatic debut as Azucena in Il trovatore in Sanremo in 1909. During the course of her stage career, she sang throughout Italy as well as in Latin America and Spain. Amongst the roles she created were Dèbora in Pizzetti's Dèbora e Jaéle (1922) and the Commandant in Zandonai's I cavalieri di Ekebù (1925). Known for the extension of her lower register with an almost baritonal quality to her low notes, she has been described as a contralto in some sources. She was married to Umberto Casazza, a violinist from Busseto and a distant relative relative of the conductor, Giulio Gatti-Casazza. The couple had one son, Girolamo, who was killed in a plane crash at the outset of World War II. Following the death of her husband a few years later, Casazza retired from the stage with a final performance at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste in 1947 as Mother in Charpentier's Louise. She devoted her later years to teaching singing at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro and then at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome.

Chronology of some appearances

1909 Sanremo Teatro Principe Amedeo Andrea Chenier (Madelon)
1912 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Abul di A.Nepomuceno (Shina)
1914 Roma Teatro Costanzi Canossa di G.F.Malipiero (Alaide)
1917 Savona Teatro Chiabrera Concerto
1919 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Aida (Amneris)
1921 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Aida (Amneris)
1924 Milano Teatro La Scala Debora E Jaele di I. Pizzetti (Debora)
1926 Milano Teatro La Scala Hansel e Gretel (Strega)
1928 Torino Teatro Regio Hansel e Gretel (Strega)
1931 Roma Teatro Dell'Opera Ballo in Maschera (Ulrica)
1933 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Falstaff (Quickly)
1935 Milano Teatro La Scala Falstaff (Quickly)
1939 Trieste Teatro Verdi I Quattro Rusteghi (Margarita)
1947 Trieste Teatro Verdi Louise (Madre)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Victor, USA  1917-05-02

Trovatore (Verdi): Mal reggendo all'aspro assalto with  Bernardo De Muro  6411A 3174c

Trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti with Bernardo De Muro 6529A 3175c

Victor, USA 1917-05-09

Trovatore (Verdi): Perigliarti ancor languente with Bernardo De Muro  6411-B

Gramophone, Milano 1918-10-17

Favorita (Donizetti): Addio, fuggir mi lascia with Beniamino Gigli 2-054083  3314c

Gramophone, Milano 1918-10-19

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Laggiu nelle nebbie remote with Beniamino Gigli 2-054085 3316c

Fonografia Nazionale, Milano
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Voi lo sapete 2102
Aida (Verdi) Già i sacerdoti adunansi with Ettore Bergamaschi 2023
Trovatore (Verdi) Stride la vampa 1073
Trovatore (Verdi) Condotta ell'era in ceppi 2044

Trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti with Ettore Bergamaschi 2043

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Voce di donna 4697