Dino Borgioli (Tenor) (Florence 1891 - Florence 1960)

He was an Italian lyric tenor. Praised by critics for his musicianship, he was particularly associated with roles in operas composed by Mozart, Rossini, and Donizetti.

Dino Borgioli studied with Eugenio Giachetti in Florence, and made his operatic debut in 1914, as Arturo in I puritani, at the Teatro Corso in Milan. He then sang the role of Fernand in La favorite at the Teatro Dal Verme, before making his La Scala debut in 1918 as Ernesto in Don Pasquale.

In 1924, he was the lead tenor in the Melba-Williamson Grand Opera tour of Australia, opening the Sydney season opposite Melba in La bohème.

On the international scene, Borgioli debuted at the Royal Opera House in London, as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, opposite Toti Dal Monte in 1925—and at the Glyndebourne Festival where he sang as Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and as Ernesto. He also appeared in Paris, at both the Opéra-Comique and the Palais Garnier, as Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, Ramiro in La Cenerentola, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Ottavio, Edgardo and des Grieux in Manon.

The role of Cavaradossi in Tosca was his debut role for both the San Francisco Opera in 1932, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1933. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on December 31, 1934, as Rodolfo in La bohème. Borgioli appeared there for one season only: his other roles were Ottavio and des Grieux (Massenet).

Borgioli made a number of gramophone records which confirm the attractiveness of his lyric voice and the elegance of his phrasing. These qualities can be discerned in two famous complete recordings of Il barbiere di Siviglia and Rigoletto which he made in 1928, opposite the baritone Riccardo Stracciari. Nonetheless, he was still overshadowed in the theatre and on disc by another stylish tenore di grazia of his era in Tito Schipa.

In 1949, Borgioli became director of vocal studies at the New Opera Company of London, where he directed stage productions of Il barbiere di Siviglia and La bohème. He died in Florence, aged 69.

Chronology of some appearances

1919 Palermo Teatro Massimo Boheme (Rodolfo)

1919 Barcelona Teatro Liceo Boheme (Rodolfo)

1919 Madrid Teatro Reale Boheme (Rodolfo)

1920 Madrid  Teatro Reale Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1920 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Rodolfo)

1921 Buenos Aires Teatro Colon Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1922 Montecarlo  Palais Garnier Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1922 San Sebastian Teatro Victoria Eugenia Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1922 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1923 Milano Teatro La Scala Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1923 Zurigo  Staatsoper Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1924 Milano Teatro La Scala Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1924 Sidney His Majesty's Theater Boheme (Rodolfo)

1924 Melbourne Her Majesty's Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1926 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1926 San Paolo Teatro Municipal Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1926 Il Cairo Kursaal Dalbagni Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1927 Mantova  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1927 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1927 Milano Teatro La Scala Boheme (Rodolfo)

1928 Lisbon Coliseo Recrejos Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1928 Montecarlo Teatro del Casinò Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1929 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1930 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1930 Milano Teatro La Scala Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1931 Milano Teatro La Scala Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1931 Livorno Politeama Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1933 San Francisco Civic Auditorium Boheme (Rodolfo)

1940 Buenos Aires Teatro Colon Boheme (Rodolfo)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Columbia, Milan 1922?

Favorita (Donizetti):  Spirto gentil D16379 74847          

Columbia, Milano 1923

Traviata (Verdi):  Parigi, o cara with Ena Surinach  D5105 B269

Traviata (Verdi):  Un di, felice with Ena Surinach D5105 B268

Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Tornami a dir che m’ami with Ena Surinach D5036  B26

Puritani (Bellini): Vieni fra queste braccia with Ena Surinach D 5036 b 20

Sonnambula (Bellini): Son geloso with Ena Surinach  D 5035 B19

Mignon (Thomas): Ah! non credevi tu D5034 B14

Mignon (Thomas): Addio Mignon D5034 B17

Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Come gentil D4963 70665-2           

Mefistofele (Boito): Giunto sul passo D5107 B247

Fedora (Giordano): Amor ti vieta D9432 B16

Columbia, Milano 1924?

Puritani (Bellini): A te, o cara D9411

Columbia, Milano 1925

Faust (Gounod):  Salve dimora  D5037 B18 

Pescatori di Perle (Bizet): Mi par d'udir ancora D4963  70668 

Columbia, Milan 1927-04-04

Faust (Gounod): Duetto d'amore P. I with Maria Zamboni L 2077 WBX 92

Columbia, Milano 1927-04-08

Faust (Gounod): Duetto d'amore P. II with Maria Zamboni L 2077 WBX93

Columbia, Milan 1927-04-11

Elisir d'Amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima BX 97 L2054

Columbia, Milan  1927-04-14

Sonnambula (Bellini): D'un pensiero with Ena Surinach D 5035 b 27  

Sonnambula (Bellini): D’un pensiero with Gina Pedroni, Ida Mannarini and Maria Gentile M 7129 WBX 105

Columbia, Milan  1927-04-14/15

Rigoletto (Verdi): E’ il sol dell’anima with Maria Gentile D18055 BX99

Columbia, Milan  1927-04-15

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Chi mi frena with Gino Vanelli, Maria Gentile, Salvatore Baccaloni, Giuseppe Nessi and Ida Mannarini D 18016 BX 104

Columbia, Milan  1928-02-05

Bohème (Puccini): O Mimi tu piu non torni with Gino Vanelli 1859-D D1797

Columbia, Milan  1928-02-10

Lohengrin (Wagner): Merce, merce 2424-D  B1839

Bohème (Puccini): Nei cieli bigi with Gino Vanelli D7024 B1806

Columbia, Milan  1928-02-13

Pescatori di perle (Bizet): Dal tempio al limitar with Gino Vanelli GQX10250 BX247

Columbia, Milan  1928-02-15

Sonnambula (Bellini): Prendi, l’anel ti dono with Ena Surinach D1642  WB 1814

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): All'idea di quel metallo with Gino Vanelli  D12578 B1817

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Numero quindici with Gino Vanelli D12578 B1816

Columbia, Milan  1928-02-17

Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Tornami a dir with Aurora Rettore D 12579 b 1823

Columbia, Milan  1928-02-18

Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Sogno soave e casto D12579 WB1828   

Pescatori di Perle (Bizet): Della mia vita D12580 B1830

Columbia, Milan  1930-05-13

Amico Fritz (Mascagni): Suzel buon di...Tutto tace with Rosetta Pampanini GQX10282 WBX830

Amico Fritz (Mascagni): Tutto tace with Rosetta Pampanini GQX10282 WBX831

Columbia, Milan  1930-05-14

Amico Fritz (Mascagni): O amore, o bella luce B3385 2424-D           

Columbia, Milan  1930-05-16

Princessita (Padilla) GQ7144 B3404

Columbia, Milan  1930-05-18

Caro mio ben (Giordani) D12477 B806

Columbia 1935

Do not go my love (Hageman) LB24  15115-2

Columbia

Pescatori di perle  (Bizet): Del tempio al limitar with Benvenuto Franci D5127 B249

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini):  Ecco ridente  D4964 70662

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Se il mio nome D4964 70663

Traviata (Verdi): Lunge da lei...De'miei bollenti spiriti   D1503  B274        

Carmen (Bizet):  Il fior che avevi a me 2017-M  B235

Barcarola della Marangona LB29 15106-1      

Boheme (Puccini): Che gelida manina D9411

Gondoliera Veneziana (Sdero) LB29

Private record

Orontea (Cesti): Intorno all'idol mio