Pietro Lara (Tenor) (Naples 1874 - ?)

He was born in Naples in 1874. Before his debut as an opera singer, he was a conductor at the Piccinni in Bari and the Curci in Barletta. His voice was frequently praised when at the piano he sang the music for the singers, and he was seriously advised to attempt a career as a singer. He studied two years at the conservatory of Naples and made his debut there in 1893 at the Teatro Bellini in ‘’Traviata’’.  His reputation was established as one of the most promising young tenors in Italy. He was the leading tenor of Mme. Sembrich's Opera Company with whom in 1901 he performed  in San Francisco and in Berlin. In 1903 he joined the "Assiociazione Teatrale  Giuseppe Verdi", an association that represented many opera singers. He performed not only in Italy, but also in Berlin, Nice, Buenos Ayres, Madrid, Rio de Janerio, Amsterdam, Lisbon.  After his retirement, he was taught singing.

Chronology of some appearances

1900 Napoli Teatro Bellini Favorita (Fernando)
1902 Buenos Ayres Teatro San Martin Elisir d'amore (Nemorino)
1904 Madrid Teatro Reale Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1906 Amsterdam Paleis Voor Volksvljit Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1908 Oporto Teatro San Joao Amico Fritz (Fritz)
1910 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Maria di Rohan
1917 Napoli Teatro Bellini Favorita (Fernando)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

G&T, Milano 1906

Traviata (Verdi): Sempre libera with Giuseppina Huguet  54296   8042b

Faust (Gounod): O del ciel (Trio finale) with Huguet & Torres de Luna 54298 8041b
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Fra poco a me ricovero 2-52549 8009b
Forza del destino (Verdi): Pronta i destrieri with Maria Grisi 54317 8085b
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Numero quindici with Ernesto Badini 54313 8101½b
Lohengrin (Wagner): Racconto del Graal 052125 608c

Victor, USA 1906

Ruy Blas (Marchetti): O dolce volutta with Maria Grisi 68070 617c

Victor, USA 1906

Fra Diavolo (Auber): Agnese la zitella 63171 8038b

Odeon Fonotipia, Milano 1908?

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Voi dovreste traverstirvi with Giuseppe La Puma  X37609
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Numero quindici with Giuseppe La Puma  X37610
Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Com'è gentil 37672 Xm1096
Favorita (Donizetti) Una vergine un angiol di Dio 37647
Mignon (Thomas) Ah! non credevi tu 37628

Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-17

Elisir d’amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima 252005  13919b