Carlo Tagliabue (Baritone) (Mariano Comense 1898 – Monza 1978)

After studies with Leopoldo Gennai and Annibale Guidotti he made his debut in Lodi, Lombardy, in Loreley and Aida. His debuts in Genoa (1923), Torino, La Scala (1930), Rome (1931), and Naples (1931) were all in Tristan und Isolde (sung in Italian). He also performed in Wagner's Gotterdammerung, Tannhauser and Lohengrin. However, Tagliabue would go on to excel in the Verdian repertoire, especially La forza del destino, Aida, Rigoletto, La traviata, Nabucco, and Otello. He created the role of Basilio in Respighi's La fiamma in 1934.

His international career included Buenos Aires' Teatro Colуn (1934), the Metropolitan Opera, New York (1937–39), and San Francisco Opera and Covent Garden, London (1938). Tagliabue's last performance was in 1955 at La Scala, at the famous performance of La traviata conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini and directed by Luchino Visconti, where Maria Callas scandalized the public by throwing her shoes off.

In his book Voci Parallele Giacomo Lauri-Volpi wrote, ‘’[Tagliabue] is the only survivor of a school that knows that in Rigoletto, in Ballo in Maschera, Trovatore, Traviata a melodramatic piece should be sung, measured and breathed musically in line with the mastery of great art’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1922 Lodi  Teatro Verdi Carmen (Escamilio)

1923 Ferrara Teatro Tosi Borghi Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1924 San Paolo  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1924  Ferrara Teatro Borghi Tosi Lohengrin (Tetralmondo)

1924  San Paolo Teatro Municipal Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1924  San Paolo Teatro Municipal  Pagliacci (Tonio)

1925 Genova  Politeama Genovese Boheme (Marcello)

1926 San Paolo  Teatro Municipal Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1926 San Paolo  Teatro Municipal Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1926  San Paulo  Teatro Municipal Boheme (Marcello)

1926 Montevideo  Teatro Solis Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1926 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Fanciulla del West (Rance)

1926 Conception  Teatro Conception Boheme (Marcello)

1926 Parma Teatro Regio Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1927 Pisa  Politeama Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1927 Pisa  Politeama Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1927 Firenze  Teatro Della Pergola Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1928 Forlì  Teatro Comunale Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1928 Trieste  Politeama Rossetti Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1928 Piacenza  Politeama  Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1929 Trieste  Teatro Verdi Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1929 Havana  Teatro Nacional Otello (Jago)

1932 Roma  Eiar Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1932 Genova  Politeama Genovese  Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1932 Torino  Eiar Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1933 Padova  Teatro Verdi  Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1933 Torino  Eiar  Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1934 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Manon Lescaut (Lescaut)

1935 Torino Teatro Regio Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1936 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice  Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1936 Roma  Eiar Favorita  (Alfonso)

1937 Asti Teatro Alfieri Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1937 Roma Eiar Ernani (Don Carlo)

1938 Roma Eiar Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonografia Nazionale

Boheme (Puccini): O Mimi, tu piu non torni with Ettore Bergamaschi 1078

Forza del destino (Verdi) Solenne in quest'ora with Carlo Tagliabue G 2055
Bohème (Puccini): Quartetto with Bergamaschi, Fumagalli-Riva & Poletti 2138

Cetra

Rigoletto (Verdi): Pari siamo BB 25064 2-70269

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Si puo  BB 25064 2-70271

Ballo in Maschera (Verdi):  Eri tu che macchiavi BB 25051 2-70272

Trovatore (Verdi): Il balen del suo sorriso BB 25051 2-70270