Ulysses Lappas (Tenor) (Alessandria 1888 – Athens 1971)

                                                                 Canio

                                                             Dick Johsnon

His real name was Odysseus Lappas. He studied with Giuseppe Mandolini in Milan. In 1914 he made his debut as Enzo in ‘’Gioconda’’ at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan. In the same year, he also appeared there as Canio in ‘’Pagliacci’’. Already in 1917 Lappas performed at La Scala in the premiere of the opera ‘’Il Macigno’’ of  Victor de Sabata. in 1918 he sang at the Teatro Politeama  Reinach of Parma in the performanceof Puccinis ‘’La Fanciulla del West’’. Since 1919 Lappas began his real international career appearing at the opera house of Monte Carlo in ‘’Ruy Blas’’. In 1919 he made guest appearance at Covent Garden. The next year, he went to Cairo, where he performed in ‘’Francesca Da Rimini’’. In 1920 Lappas repeated his success in Monte Carlo appearing with Elvira De Hidalgo  in ‘’Pagliacci’’. In 1925 he was to be found again at Covent Garden, now as a partner of Maria Jeritza in ‘’Fedora’’. From 1921-22 and 1928-29 he was a soloist of the Chicago Opera. He made his debut there in ‘’La Fanciulla del West’’. During his career he appeared in different italian opera houses (Venice. La Fenice, Genova. Politeama Genovese, Milan. Dal Verme, Brescia. Grande, Pisa. Verdi, Bari. Petruzzelli etc.). In 1934 he sang at La Scala in the première of the opera ‘’Don of Giovanni’’ of Felice Lattuada. Probaply he retired in 1940.

Chronology of some appearances

1914  Milano Dal Verme Gioconda (Enzo)

1915 Bari Petruzzelli Pagliacci  (Pagliacci)

1916 Milano Dal Verme Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)

1917 Lyon Grand Théâtre Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1918 Pisa Verdi Carmen (Don Jose)

1919 Monte Carlo Garnier Ruy Blas (Ruy Blas)

1920 Cairo Khediviale  Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)

1921 Monte Carlo Garnier Parsifal (Parsifal)

1923 Verona Gli Zingari (Radu)

1925 London Covent Garden Fedora (Loris)

1925  Milano Dal Verme Norma (Pollione)

1928 Brescai Grande Carmen (Don Jose)

1932 Naples San Carlo Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, London 1923-06-29

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Improvviso 7080-M BX1

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Come un bel di di maggio 7080-M BX2

Columbia, London 1923-07

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba D9427 B84

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Un tal gioco D9427 B85

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): No! Pagliaccio non son D9425 B86

Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Ch'ella mi creda D1472 B87

Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle D1463 B88

Carmen (Bizet): Il fior D1463 B89

Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia D1456 B90

Manon (Massenet): Lescaut Tra voi belle D1472 B91

Columbia, London 1925-07? (ac)

Exomologissis (Samara) D1531 A2269

Columbia, London 1925-07-16 (ac)

Pantrevoun ten agapi mou (Lavdas) D14654 AX1078

Markos Botsaris (Carrer): O yero Demos  L1703  AX1079

Columbia, New York 1926-01-12

Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida L1762 98194

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar L1762 98204

Columbia, New York 1926-04-23

To Paramythi tes neraidas (Sakellarides) D1547  W106161

Yiati metho (Triantaphyllou) D1456 W106162-2

Manna kai yios (Samaras) D1457  W106163

? (Unknown, Greece), 1928?

Mariori (Core 'ngrato) (Cardillo) (Gr) 18142 20767

Essena pou... agapessa (You that I have loved) (Xanthopoulos) 18119 20780

I kardia tes mannas (Mother's heart) (Hadjiapostolou) 18144 20793

An me eixes niosei (Si vous l'aviez compris) (Denza) 18142 20795

Den tha xehasso (I will not forget) (Psaroudas) 18119 20808

Lappas by Stampanoni