Nestore Della Torre (Baritone) (Las Palmas 1875 - Madrid 1933)

                                             

He was born on July 26, 1875 in Las Palmas. His real name was Nestor de la Torre Comminges. Self-sacrificing musician and philanthropist, Della Torre was an exceptional baritone of brilliant international career. From a very early age he studied singing under the teacher Bernardino Valle Chiniestra, but additionally he received education in Madrid from the singer Carolina Cefeda and later in Italy. In 1894 he made his debut at the Teatro Prince Alfonso in  ‘’Favorita’’ of Donizetti. The same year he sang in Milan.  He devoted himself to developing his operatic talent singing always with great success. He realized a tour along South America, and appeared also with success at the  imperial theatres of Russia. Establishing himself in Rome (1900), he  Italianisized his name and called Nestore della Torre by which he was known during all his career. In 1901 he appeared in the opening of the Theatro Arriaga de Bilbao. On the following year h sang at La Scala of Milan in ‘’Oceana’’ of the composer Smareglia, and later at the Teatro Liceo of Barcelona in ‘’Lohengrin’’of  Wagner (1903). In 1908 family problems forced him to leave the stage and to be established by his family in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He devoted hitself to the pedagogical career, collaborating actively in the musical life of the island. In 1918 he returned to Gran Canaria, where worked as a singing pedagogue. There  one of his as a pupil was Isabel Macario. After a tour along South America in 1920 he went with his family to Cuba. In Havana he was a teacher of several conservatories and of the Municipal Academy of Music. He remined in Caribbean island during a decade. There he and gave his last concert. On the following year he went to Tenerife, but in 1933 he traveled to Madrid, where he and died on August 23., 1933.

Chronology of some appearances

1894 Madrid Teatro Prince Alfonso Favorita (Alfonso)

1896 Caracas Teatro Municipale Traviata (Germont)

1898 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Faust (Valentino)

1901Venezia Teatro Fenice  Le Maschere (Spaventa)

1903 Milano Teatro La Scala  Oceana di A.Smareglia (Vadar)

1908 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Aida (Amonasro)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Milano 1908-05

Forza del destino (Verdi): Solenne in quest'ora with Francesco Marconi 054214 1439c

Gramophone, Milano 1908

Traviata (Verdi): Non sapete with Giuseppina Piccoletti 054219 1573c

Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Domo, o ciel (w. chorus) 052266 1570c