Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Sep 18, 2012

Luis Almodovar (Baritone) (Aspe (Alicante/Spagna 1888 - Milano 1961)




His complete name was Luis Almodovar Navarro. He studied at the Real Conservatory of Madrid and made his debut at the Teatro Gaffurio in Lodi in ‘’Andrea Chenier’’. In 1916 he appeared at the Teatro Real, Madrid in Bizet’s ‘’I Pescatori di Perle’’ with Giuseppe Anselmi. At the same theatre he sang also in ‘’Otello’’ and ‘’Rigoletto’’ with triumph. Then he moved to Milan, to perfect his style and to learn Italian repertoire. Attracted by his voice, Pietro Mascagni engaged him to sing in ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’ at the Teatro Lirico, Milan. In 1917 he appeared at Teatro Carcano, Milan in ‘’La Gioconda’’. At the Teatro Costanzi, Rome he sang with Alessandro Bonci in ‘’Un Ballo in Maschera’’. He sang also with Beniamino Gigli in ‘’Lodoletta’’. At the Teatro Communale, Cesena he appeared ‘’Lodoletta’’ with Toti Dal Monte. In 1919 Almodovar performed with great success in different Italian cities (Milan, Rome, Brescia, Genoa, Palermo). Probably in 1927 he decided to change his repertoire and begin to sing in Zarzuelas making his debut in this genre at the Teatro Tivoli, Barcelona in ‘’Por una mujer’’ of Juan Bautista Lambert. He sang with great success both in different Spanish and Latin-American cities. As the first baritone, he integrated into the «Compania Lirica Nacional», which was acting at the Teatro de la Zarzuela and also in provinces. During the 1930s his career developed principally in Spain.

Chronology of some appearances

1914 Lodi Teatro Gaffurio Andrea Chenier (Gerard)
1916 Madrid Teatro Reale Pescatori di Perle (Zurga)
1918 Genova Politeama Genovese Pagliacci (Tonio)
1920 Genova Politeama Genovese Andrea Chenier (Gerard)
1922 Genova Politeama Genovese Germania (Worms)
1924 Pesaro Teatro Rossini Rigoletto (Rigoletto)
1926 Valencia Plaza de Toros Pagliacci (Tonio)

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for such an informative article and the extensive explanation, it's been very useful. Thanks!

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