Alessandro Modesti (Baritone) (Roma 1858 - Novara 1940)

He was a pupil of the Melanese pedagogues G.Cima and made his debut in 1886 in the Teatro Reinach in Parma as Doge in ‘’Due Foscari’’ of Verdi. He already had with his debut and afterwards as Nabucco in Verdi’s ‘’Nabucco’’ a huge success. Appearances followed in Vicenza, Torino and in Buenos Aires. In 1892 at the Teatro Regio in Parmahe sang the role of Alfonso in Donizetti’s ‘’Favorita’’. In 1892 he appeared at the Teatro Costanzi in Romein the premiere of A.Gnaga’s opera ‘’Swarten’’ as a partner of  Francesco Tamagno (15. 11. 1892). He achieved his great success at guest performances in leading stages of North and South America. In 1893 with Compagnia Ughetto he was in Mexico City and sang with great success in the première of Verdi’s ‘’Falstaff’’. Now the role of Ford in this opera became one of his star roles, which he sang in the 1894-95 season among other things at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, at the Teatro Sociale of Trento, at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa and also at the Teatro Malibran in Venezia. Since 1900 he was married with the Mezzo-soprano Carolina Zauner (1872-1952). With Carolina Zauner in 1910 at New York he opened a song studio which was  highly respectable. Later the couple returned again to Italy and continued his educational activity inNovara. He never made records.

Chronology of some appearances

1886 Parma Politeama Reinach Due Foscari (Doge)

1888 Torino Teatro Regio Linda di Chamonix (Antonio)

1891 Odessa eatro Municipale Ugonotti (Nevers)

1893 Reggio Emilia Teatro Municipale Ugonotti (Nevers)

1896 Lisbona Teatro San CarlosFaust (Valentino)

1899 Messina Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Aida (Amonasro)

1902 Karkoff Teatro Dukova Carmen (Escamillo)

1904 Ferrara Teatro Comunale Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1907 La Valletta/Malta Teatro Reale   Iris (Kyoto)

1911 Atene Teatro Arniottis    Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1915 Deluth Lyceum Theater Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1916 Cedar Rapids Green's Opera Aida (Amonasro)
1918 New York Gotham Theater Stagione Compagnia Operistica