Mariano Stabile (Baritone) (Palermo 1888 – Milan 1968)

 

                                                              Scarpia

Stabile's vocal studies took place at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome with Antonio Cotogni, and he made his professional debut in Palermo, as Marcello in La bohème, in 1909. After singing throughout Italy, he appeared in Saint Petersburg in 1911, Buenos Aires in 1913, Barcelona in 1914, and made his debut at the Paris Opera in 1917, as Amonasro in Aida. The turning point of his career came when Arturo Toscanini chose him for the title-role in Falstaff for the reopening of La Scala in 1921, a role that he would eventually sing an estimated 1200 times during his long career. He sang at La Scala until 1955, and among his other roles there were: Gérard, Scarpia, Iago, Malatesta, Dulcamara, Beckmesser, Schicchi. Also at La Scala, he created the title role of Respighi's Belfagor, in 1923. He also took part in the revival of Il turco in Italia, as Prosdocimo, in 1955, opposite Maria Callas. Stabile appeared regularly at the Royal Opera House in London, from 1926 to 1931. He also sang at the Festivals of Glyndebourne and Salzburg between 1931 and 1939, and in Mozart roles such as Figaro, Don Giovanni, Don Alfonso, at the Cambridge Theatre in London from 1946 to 1949. His only appearance in North America seems to have been in Chicago in 1924. Stabile had a good voice, if not particularly beautiful, and it was used with style and intelligence. He had excellent diction and was an outstanding singing-actor, especially in comedy, and he enjoyed a remarkably long career. He was married to Italian soprano Gemma Bosini (1890–1982), with whom he occasionally appeared on stage.

Chronology of some appearances

1910 Roma Teatro Adriano Favorita (Alfonso)

1910 Terni  Teatro Comunale Carmen (Escamilio)

1911 Ravenna  Teatro Mariani Boheme (Marcello)

1911 San Pietroburgo  Nuovo Conservatorio Boheme (Marcello)

1912 Venezia  Teatro La Fenice Carmen (Escamilio)

1912 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Fanciulla del West (Rance)

1912 Firenze Politeama Fiorentino Fanciulla del West (Rance)

1913 Trieste Teatro Verdi Fanciulla del West (Rance)

1913 Roma Teatro Costanzi Gioconda (Barnaba)

1914 Barcellona  Teatro Liceo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1916 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1916 Valencia Teatro Principal Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1917 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1917 San Sebastiano  Teatro Victoria Eugenia Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1918 Malaga  Teatro Cervantes Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1918 Siviglia  Teatro San Ferdinand Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1918  Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1919 Vicenza  Teatro Eretenio Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1919 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1919 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Boheme (Marcello)

1919 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Coliseo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1920 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

1921 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1921 Venezia  Teatro La Fenice Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1921 Venezia  Teatro Malibran Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1923 Vicenza  Teatro Verdi Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

1925 Modena  Teatro Storchi Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1925 Bologna  Arena del Sole Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1925 Parma  Politeama Reinach Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1925 Venezia  Teatro Malibran Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1926 Milano  Teatro La Scala Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1928 Torino  Teatro Regio Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1928 Varese  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1930 Milano Teatro alla Scala Don Pasquale (Malatesta)

1931 Vienna  Un der Wien Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1931 Zurigo  Stadt Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1931 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonotipia, Milano 1924-02-11

Falstaff (Verdi): Mondo ladro (Monologo) 74917 XXPh5388

Fonotipia, Milano 1924-02-12

Falstaff (Verdi): Alfin t’ho colto with Olga Guerrieri 74916 XXPh5389

Fonotipia, Milano 1924-09

Nerone (Mascagni): Narrami ancora... Tra i giunchi with Rina Agozzino 152029 Pho5442

Nerone (Mascagni): Servivo un falso altar with Rina Agozzino  74929 XXPh5443

Nerone (Mascagni): Vivete in pace with Rina Agozzino 74930 XXPh5445

Columbia, Milano 1926

Otello (Verdi): Brindisi with Emilio Venturini and Giuseppe Nessi D 18015  BX 62

Columbia, Milano 1926-12-02

Don Giovanni (Verdi): Serenata  B1136 D12528

Columbia, Milano 1926-12-04

Falstaff (Verdi):  Quand'ero paggio with Natalie de Santis D18014 WBX61

Columbia, Milano 1926-12-06

Tosca (Puccini): Te Deum L1969 WBX63

Columbia, Milano 1926/28

Aida (Verdi): Quest’assisa with Maria Pia Pagliarini,  Erminia  Rubadi and Salvatore Baccaloni B 1160 82599

Columbia, Milano 1926/28

Falstaff (Verdi): So che se andiam with Romeo Boscacci and  Aristide Bacracchi D12621 WB 2874

Columbia, Milano 1928-01-14

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Non più andrai L2185 WBX210

Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Un dì m'era di gioia  CQX16502 WBX 212

Columbia, Milano 1928-10-12

Francesca da Rimini (Zandonai):  Chi ha chiuso with Giuseppe Nessi D14718 WBX 354

Telefunken, 1942

Falstaff (Verdi): Signore, v'assista il cielo!, pt 1 with Afro Poli, Giuseppe Nessi and Luciano Donaggio GX61009, 026637

Falstaff (Verdi): Signore, v'assista il cielo!, pt 2 with Afro Poli, Giuseppe Nessi and Luciano Donaggio GX61009, 026638

Columbia, London 1948

Falstaff (Verdi): L'onore! Ladri! LX1081 CAX10205

Falstaff (Verdi): Ehi! Taverniere! LX1081 CAX10214

Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Cheti, cheti, immantinente, pt 1 with Martin Lawrence LX1094,  CAX10252

Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Cheti, cheti, immantinente, pt 2 with Martin Lawrence LX1094 CAX10252 CAX10253