Fernando Valero (Tenor) (Écija, Sevilla 1854 - St. Petersburg 1914)

He first studied law, but then took to singing under Martin Salazar and the legendary tenor Enrico Tamberlick. He made his debut as Lorenzo at the Teatro Real in Madrid in 1878, in Auber's opera "Fra Diavolo." From 1880 he sang in Italy, making his first appearance at the Teatro Brunetti in Bolgona in Ponchielli's opera "I Promessi Sposi," followed by performances in several provincial theatres throughout Italy, in operas such as "La Favorita," "Faust," "Puritani" and "La Sonnambula." In 1882 he sang in Buenos Aires, in 1884 in Wien and in 1885 in St. Petersburg. To Milan's La Scala he arrived in 1883, making his debut as Gounod's "Faust," which led to a successful collaboration for nearly a decade, the milanese audiences eventually dubbing him "Il Piccolo Gayarre," after the great Spanish tenor.1 At La Scala he sang in the first Italian version of Bizet's "Les Pechêurs de Perles" (1886), and in 1891 as Turiddu in the first performance of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana," a role he also created for Firenze. He made a further name for himself in 1895, when he sang the role of "Werther" at La Scala. In 1897, and at the end of his career, he suffered a pulmonary desease and had to interrupt his singing for a longer period. He eventually retired in 1902 and settled in St. Petersburg, where he opened a vocal academy. 

Chronology of some appearances

1881 Milano Manzoni Rigoletto (Duca)

1881 Milano Dal Verme Rigoletto (Duca)

1881 Berlino Westend Rigoletto (Duca)

1886 Milano La Scala I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1886 Lisbona San Carlos I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Havana Tacon I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Roma Apollo I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Roma Argentina I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Buenos Ayres Colon I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1889 Lisbona San Carlos I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1890 Londra Covent Garden I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

COMPLETE RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, London 1903-06-16

Dormi pure (Scuderi) 52716 3922b

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola (Siciliana) 52717 3924b 

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Viva il vino (Brindisi) 52718 3925b 

El amor es la vida (de los Moteros) (Sp) 52719 3926b 

G&T, Milano 1903-10

Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile 52009 Con280

Mattinata (Tosti) 052022 Con672