Ines-Maria Ferraris (Soprano) (Turin 1882 – Milan 1971)

 

First she studied piano under Antonio Quartero in Turin and appeared already in 1894 publicly as a pianist. Then she also been active as an actress and as a concert singer. her debut as an opera singer occurred in 1908 in Bologna as Philine in ‘’Mignon’’ of A. Thomas. In 1911 she performed at La Scala (beginning role: Carolina in ‘’Il matrinonio segreto’’ of Cimarosa). In 1911 she sang at La Scala in the première  of  ‘’Der Rosenkavalier’’ of  Richard Strauss the role of Sophie. The same part brought her in 1914 to appear at  Rome Opera. At La Scala she appeared  also in 1913 as Colombina in ‘’Le donne curiose’’ of E. Wolf-Ferrari. Arturo Toscanini admired her voice very much. At the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires she sang in the première of E.Wolf-Ferrari’s ‘’Il segreto di Susanna’’, also in Verdi’s ‘’Ballo in Maschera’’ and in ‘’La Wally’’ of Catalani. In 1916 she made guest appearance at the Teatro Massimo, Palermo in ‘’Traviata’’, then in 1920 as Gilda in ‘’Rigoletto’’, in  the 1920-21 season and in 1924 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples. At La Scala she sang among other things in 1925 in ‘’Hansel and Gretel’’ and in 1927 in ‘’Rosenkavalier’’ of R. Strauss together with Spanish Mezzo-soprano Conchita Supervia with whom she was connected friendly. On 27.3.1917 she perfomed at the opera house of Monte Carlo in the premiere of Puccini’s ‘’La Rondine’’ as Lisetta. In 1924 she sang there in the premiere of Chabrier’s new opera  ‘’Une Éducation of manquée’’. Nevertheless, her career with her appearances reached the climax at La Scala After her retirement from the stage in 1934 she worked at the conservatory of Venice, then at the conservatory of Bologna and at the Accademia Chigiana of Siena; later she was active as a pedagogue in Milan.

Chronology of some appearances

1906 Ascoli Piceno  Teatro Ventidio Basso Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Trieste  Anfiteatro Minerva Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906  Barcellona  Teatro Liceo Carmen (Micaela)
1906 Ascoli Piceno  Teatro Ventidio Basso Don Pasquale (Norina)
1907 Genova  Politeama Genovese Don Pasquale (Norina)
1908 Firenze  Teatro Verdi Don Pasquale (Norina)
1908 Lucera  Teatro Garibaldi Rigoletto (Gilda)
1909 Mogliano  Politeama Mafalda Don Pasquale (Norina)
1909 Pesaro  Teatro Rossini Don Pasquale (Norina)
1909 Bologna Teatro Verdi Mognon (Filina)
1910 Il Cairo Teatro Kedivhiale Loreley (Anna)
1912 Rovigo  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1912 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Musetta)
1912 Brescia  Teatro Sociale Don Pasquale (Norina)
1913 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Ballo in maschera (Oscar)
1913 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Loreley (Anna)
1914 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Ballo in maschera (Oscar)
1914 Bologna  Teatro Verdi Boheme (Musetta)
1915 Forlì  Teatro Comunale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1915 Milano  Teatro Dal Verme Ballo in maschera (Oscar)
1916 Udine  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1919 Trieste  Politeama Rossetti Boheme (Musetta)
1924 Milano  Teatro La Scala Boheme (Musetta)
1925 Milano  Teatro La Scala Ballo in maschera (Oscar)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1908?

Fra Diavolo (Santini): Quell'uom dal fiero aspetto with Angelo Santini C533 10725

Ernani (Verdi): Vieni meco with Michele De Padova and Cesare Preve D16253 74704

Ernani (Verdi): O sommo Carlo with Angelo Santini and Michele De Padova D16253 74705
Rigoletto (Verdi): Lassù in cielo with Michele De Padova 10739 D428
Rigoletto (Verdi): Sì, vendetta with Michele De Padova 10733 C522

Columbia, Milano 1914?

Complete Carmen (Bizet) with Luigi Bolis, Fanny Anitua and Cesare Formichi

Complete Rigoletto (Verdi) with Giuseppe Taccani, Cesare Formichi and Vincenzo Bettoni

Fonotipia, Milano 1926-04-02

Ballo in maschera: La rivedro with Aureliano Pertile, Luisa Bertana, Antonio Righetti, Cesare Baromeo & chorus 74973 xxPh 5680

Ballo in maschera: E scherzo with Aureliano Pertile, Luisa Bertana, Antonio Righetti, Cesare Baromeo & chorus 74974 xxPh 5666

Fonotipia, Milano 1928-06-20

Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck): Dance duet, pt 1, pt 2 with Conchita  Supervia 120166 xxPh6328

Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck): Dance duet pt 2 with Conchita  Supervia 120166 xxPh6329

HMV, Milano

Mai Pu, Mai Pu (G Pascoli/G Farina) 100-2432

Odeon, Milano

Rondine (Puccini): Chi il bel sogno di Doretta  B15002 Mo3411