Luisa Villani (Soprano) (San Francisco 1884 - Milano 1961)

                                                Minnie in ''Fanciulla del West''

She was a daughter of the opera singers Giuseppina Zeppilli and Vincent Villani. As a child she came back to Italy and was trained by her father Vincenzo Villani in Milan and debuted in 1907 at La Scala as Eurydice in ‘’Erfeo ed Euridice’’ of  Gluck, while Maria Gay appeared in the title part. Then she performed at the Politeama in Pisa as Desdemona in Verdi’s ‘’Otello’’. In 1910 she made guest appearance in Mexico City appearing at the Teatro Arbeu. In the same year, Villani appeared also in Boston, Charleston, Dallas and Jacksonville. In 1913 she performed again at La Scala. Here she sang on 10. 4. 1913 the role of Fiora in the premiere of the Montemezzi’s opera ‘’L'Amore dei tre Re’’ (together with Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana, Carlo Galeffi and Nazzareno De Angelis). From 1914 to 1917 she was a soloist of the Boston Civic Opera House. In 1918 she came back to Italy and performed there until 1922. Later she spent her life in the Casa di riposo Verdi in Milan.

Chronology of some appearances

1907 Milan La Scala Erfeo ed Euridice (Eurydice)

1908 Pisa Politeama Otello (Desdemona)

1910 Mexico City Teatro Arbeu

1913 Milan La Scala L'Amore dei tre Re (Flora)

1914 Boston Civic Opea House Amore Dei Tre Re di I.Montemezzi

1916 Buffalo Teatro Teck Amore Dei Tre Re di I.Montemezzi (Flora)

1918 Roma Teatro Costanzi Fanciulla Del West (Minnie)

1920 Varese Teatro Sociale Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)                         

1922 Gubbio Teatro Comunale Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Columbia, New York 1911-08-11

Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere with Carlo Cartica & chorus A5325 30812

Columbia, New York 1911-08-21
Aida (Verdi): O terra addio with Carlo Cartica & chorus A5331 30814

Columbia, New York 1911-08-

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti):  Sestetto with Carlo Cartica and Cesare Alessandroni 16326 30709

Villani by Stampanoni