Born Chaim Weinberg to a
family of pioneer settlers in Israel.
As a young man, he was sent for religious studies at the Yeshiva Chayai Olom
and Yeshiva Etz Chaim. He was discovered to have a beautiful voice and decided
to leave for Cairo, where, while studying at the
University, he performed several concerts at the Royal Palace.
In 1920 he left for Milan,
where he studied for two years at the Conservatory with Maestro Giuseppe
Mandolini. He made his debut in 1922 at the Sociale of Brescia in ‘’Cavalleria
Rusticana’’ and ‘’Pagliacci’’. For ten years he carried out an intense schedule
in Italy and in many other
countries (Sweden, Finland, the Baltics, Poland,
Chile, Argentina, Portugal,
Spain, Austria and Egypt). In 1932 he moved back to Israel, where he was given direction of the
schools of singing of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa and of the
Jerusalem Theater. In 1936 he sang on the radio and at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem. In 1939 he moved to the United States,
where he was appointed cantor of Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco for a few years. In 1948 he
performed at the local Opera House, singing in ‘’Rigoletto’’.
Chronology of some appearances
1922 Brescia Teatro Sociale Cavalleria Rusticana
(Alfio)
1923 Como Politeama Lariano Amico
Fritz (David)
1924 Scandiano
Teatro Sociale Favorita (Alfonso)
1925 Il Cairo Teatro Kedivhiale Adriana
Lecouvreur (Michonnet)
1926 Trieste Teatro Verdi Cavaliere
Della Rosa (Faninal)
1927 Parma Teatro Regio Turandot (Ping)
1928 Piacenza Teatro
Municipale Manon (Lescaut)
1929 Lisbona
Coliseo Recrejos Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)
1930 Milano
Teatro alla Scala La Via Della Finestra di R. Zandonai (Marchese)
COMPLETE RECORDINGS FOR SALE
HMV, Milano 1929
Complete Madama Butterfly (Puccini): with Lionello Cecil and Margaret Sheridan
HMV, Milano 5-11-29
La Traviata (Verdi): Di Provenza 100-820 R10348
HMV, Milano 28-11-29
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): All’idea di quel metallo with Agostino Casavecchi CM1272 S10165
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Numero quindici with Agostino Casavecchi CM1273 S10165
