I wish to thank Jerry Carbone for providing information
Forgotten Opera Singers
Jul 29, 2020
Francesco Garguilo
Born: Around 1858 (or
thereabouts) in Sorrento, Napoli, Campania, Italy (father listed as Antonio,
mother unknown) – he died in Sydney Australia in 1915 and at that time his
death certificate states he was Caretaker at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sydney.
Married: Anne
Elizabeth ORPWOOD (she was English) in Vichy, Allier, Auvergne, France on 22
Nov 1882. She was described as an Actress (died in 1899 in Sydney Australia) on
her death certificate.
The family story was
that either or both of them were opera singers – possibly performed or lived in
Scotland at some point.
Francesco and Ann and
their first child - (Elanor Kate/Eleanor Kate) also known as Annie was born in
Mile End, Middlesex, England in 1884/1885 – the three of them emigrated to
Australia arriving in 1885.
Family story also
states that he was related (a cousin of some kind) of Antonietta Meneghel (Toti
Dal Monte). An Australian newspaper article notes that he sang at his
daughter’s (Marie Carmella) wedding in 1915 – from what I can gather only a few
days before his death. I cannot seem to find any other information as to
whether he sang (either professionally or as an amateur).
I wish to thank Helene Murphy for providing me information
Eduard Habich (Baritone) (Kassel, Germany Sept. 3, 1880 - Berlin, Germany March 15, 1960)
He attended the Raff
Conservatory in Frankfurt a.M., where he was a student of Max Fleisch. He began
his stage career in the 1904-1905 season with an engagement by the City Theater
in Koblenz. In the 1905-1906 season he appeared at the Theater von Posen
(Poznan), from 1906 to 1907 he sang at the City Theater in Halle / Saale, in
the 1907-1910 season he performed at the Opera House in Düsseldorf and from
1910 to 1930 he was engaged by the Hofoper (since 1918 State Opera) in Berlin.
He was heard there, among others, in 1924 in the premiere of 'Die Zwingburg' by
E. Kr venek, in 1928 in the premiere of the opera 'Der singende Teufel' by
Franz Schreker. He gave numerous guest appearances, such as 1908 in Amsterdam
and Rotterdam, in 1929 and 1942 at the Sopot Festival (as Alberich and
Beckmesser), in 1930 and 1933 at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva (Alberich in ring
performances), in 1933 at the Stadttheater in Basel, in 1934 at the Théâtre de
la Monnaie in Brussels, in 1935 at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, also in
1935 at the Monte Carlo Opera (again as Alberich). His stage roles included
Masetto in 'Don Giovanni', Figaro in 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Monterone in
'Rigoletto', Alfio in 'Cavalleria Rusticana', Colline in 'La Bohème', Escamillo
in 'Carmen', the Laërte in 'Mignon' and the Harlequin in 'Ariadne auf Naxos' by
R. Strauss. Alberich was considered to be his major role in the operas of the
Ring Cycle, which he also sang at the Bayreuth Festival (1911, 1912, 1914 and
1924-31), where he also appeared as Klingsor in 'Parsifal' and in 1912 and
1924-1927 as Kurwenal in 'Tristan und Isolde'. He also sang the part of Klingsor
in 1914 in the Berliner 'Parsifal' premiere. From 1924 to 1936 (and again 1938)
he was a regular guest at the Covent Garden Opera in London. In 1928 he appeared
in Amsterdam, in the 1930-1932 season sang at the Chicago Opera. In the 1935-1937
seasons he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he made
his debut as father in 'Hansel and Gretel'. In 1939 he sang at the State
Theater of Kassel in the premiere of the opera 'Elisabeth von England' by Paul
von Klenau. In 1944 he was still a guest at the theater in his hometown Kassel
as Bartolo in 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia'. After completing his long career, he taught
singing in Berlin. Married to the singer Mathilde Schrecker, who was engaged in
Koblenz, Krefeld and Düsseldorf.
Jul 17, 2020
Jul 4, 2020
Enrico Nani (Baritone) (Parma 1873 - Rome 1940)
I wish to thank Jose Almeida for providing me photo of Enrico Nani
Jul 1, 2020
Mary C. Carbone (aka Marie Montain) “She Lived for Her Music”
Mary C. Carbone (aka Marie
Montain)
“She Lived for Her Music”
Short Bio
Mary C. Carbone was born in the Wyoming mining
coal-camp of Carneyville, Wyo. on 19 January 1914 to the parents, Rosa
(Montegna) Carbone and Francisco Carbone.
Mary studied violin and chorus at Sheridan
(Wyoming) High School, and in April 1930 won the state high school championship
for violin. In 1932 she and her mother set sail for Naples, Italy, where she
undertook study for three years at the Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a
Majella. She studied there under Signora Giuseppina de Rogatis, director of the
Neapolitan Quartet and Trio; Signora Rachele Maragalino Mori,
director of the singing school at Consevatory in Naples;
pianist, Benedetto Rizzo; and Ottilia Haffeli,
composer and music critic.
She concentrated on voice and after she returned
to New York City in late 1935, she sang with the J.J. Schubert Operettas.
Eventually during the war years, beginning in 1943, she went on tour with the
Philadelphia Opera Company, whose primary mission was to bring opera to the
mid- sized and smaller cities in the U.S. and Canada to be sung in
English.
She performed as Adele in Mozart’s “Die
Fledermaus (English)”and Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia (English), as
well as other roles, including, Violetta in La Traviata; Micaela in
Carmen; Nedda in Pagliacci; Mimi and Musetta in La Boheme; Marguerite in
Faust; Norina in Don Pasquale; Gretel (The Dew Fairy & Sandman
arias); and Gilda in Rigoletto.
In the late 1940’s she moved to Santa Barbara,
California, and continued singing radio concerts and likely did teaching.
By 1975 she retired to her hometown, Sheridan,
Wyoming. She passed away on 31 May 2004.
I wish to thank Jerry Carbone for providing me
information and photo
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