Franz Xaver Battisti (Tenor) (Bolzano, Italy 1865 - ?)

He was the son of a well known businessman. He studied at first at the technical college of Graz chemistry. Then, from 1889-93 he studied singing under Viktor von Rokitansky in Vienna, additionally he studied also in Graz. He made his debut in 1893 at the Municipal Theatre of Trier as Lyonel in Flotow’s ‘’Martha’’. In 1894 he sang at the Municipal Theatre of Zurich, in the 1895-96 season in Dusseldorf, from 1896-97 at the Municipal Theatre of Bremen (debuted again as Lyonel and as Radames in ‘’Aida’’). Then he was engaged by the Berlin West theatre (1897-98). Then Battisti went to Milan and completed his study under maestro Alberto Selva. In 1900 he took up his career at the Court theatre of Hannover, here he remained till 1914. Guest performances led him to the Berlin Court opera, to the Court theatres of Kassel and Brunswick, to the operahouses of Frankfurt a. M., Leipzig and Cologne. His repertoire included the principal roles in ‘’Il Trovatore’’, ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’, ‘’Pagliacci’’, ‘’Roméo et Juliette’’, ‘’Mignon’’ ‘’Magic flute’’, ‘’Les Huguenots’’, ‘’Flying Dutchman’’, ‘’Lohengrin’’, ‘’Meistersingers’’, ‘’Carmen’’ ‘’Aida’’, in addition he was also as a gifted concert singer. He continued activity at the concert hall still after his stage retirement in 1914 and was active at the same time as a pedagogue in Hannover (till in 1925). In 1909 at Hannover he made 9 records for Gramophone.

Chronology of some appearances

1893  Trier Municipal Theatre
1894 Zurich Municipal Theatre
1895-1896 Dusseldorf Opera House
1896-1897 Bremen Municipal Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Hannover 1909-06

Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): Die Liebe fürs Leben ist nur ein Wahn 4-42248 6405r

Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach):  Ha, wie in meiner Seele 4-42249 6406r

Carmen (Bizet): Blumenarie 4-42259 6407r

Tiefland (d'Albert): Mit ihm, den ich liebe with Marga Burchardt 044113 374s
Tiefland (d'Albert): Finale-Duett with Marga Burchardt 044114 375s

Fliegende Hollander (Wagner): Auf hohem Felsen with Marga Burchardt 044116 377s