Piero Biasini (Baritone) (Treviso or Ferrara, Italia 1899 - Milano, Italia 1973)

                                                                  Figaro

Probably he made his debut in 1924. In  the 1927-1930 seasons and again in 1934 he appeared with great success at the Italian Opera in Holland. Here he took over parts like the Jago in G. Verdi’s ‘’Otello’’, Don Carlo in ‘’La forza del Destino’’, Rigoletto, Scarpia in ‘’Tosca’’ and had a special success as father in ‘’Louise’’ of G. Charpentier opposite Giuseppina Cobelli and Gilda Dalla Rizza. In 1932 he was engaged by the La Scala, where he made his debut as Albert in J. Massenet’s ‘’Werther’’. Till 1940 he sang regularly at La Scala and appeared there again from 1944 to 1950. The parts, which he took over at La Scala were the Belcore in ‘’Elisir d'amore’’, Marcello in ‘’La Bohème’’, Figaro in ‘’Nozze di Figaro’’, Lescaut in G. Puccini’s ‘’Manon Lescaut’’, Albert in ‘’Werther’’ of J. Massenet, Mercutio in ‘’Faust’’ of C. Gounod, Don Giovanni and the father in ‘’Hansel and Gretel’’ of E. Humperdinck. In 1932 he appeared at La Scala in the premiere of the opera ‘’Una Partita’’ of R. Zandonai. In 1933 he sang at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino the part of Cinna in ‘’La Vestale’’ by G. Spontini (opposite  Rose Ponselle). Here in 1941 he made appearance as Marcello in ‘’La Bohème’’. In 1932 at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo he appeared as Rigoletto. In 1930 at the Teatro Comunale in Florence he sang the role of Germont-père in ‘’La Traviata’’. In 1937 he made guest appearances at Covent Garden as Ford in G. Verdi’s ‘’Falstaff’’, Malatesta in ‘’Don Pasquale’’ and the Ping in ‘’Turandot’’. In  the 1939-1942 he was to be heard regularly at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma (among other things as Belcore in ‘’Elisir d'amore’’). At the Teatro Comunale in Bologna in 1940 he sang the parts of Count in ‘’Nozze di Figaro’’and Jack Rance in ‘’La Fanciulla del West’’. He appeared also at the Salzburg Festival from 1935 to 1939. In 1948 he guested at the Vienna State Opera as Germont-père and as Amonasro. In 1949 he performed at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. After his retirement in 1950, he lived in Milan and worked as vocal pedagogue.

Chronology of some appearances

1927-1930 Holland Italian Opera
1930 Firenze Teatro Comunale
1932-1940 Milano La Scala
1932 Monte-Carlo Opéra
1933 Firenze Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
1934 Holland Italian Opera
1937 London Covent Garden
1939-1942 Roma Teatro dell'Opera
1941 Firenze Maggio Musicale
1944-1950 Milano La Scala

RECORDING FOR SALE

HMV, Milano 1929-04-15
Complete Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): with Giovanni Breviario, Delia Sanzio, Olga De Franco and Mimma Pantaleoni