Jun 19, 2016

Dusolina Giannini (Soprano) (Philadelphia 19. 12. 1902 † Zurich 29. 6. 1986)




Daughter of Italian tenor Ferruccio Giannini (1868-1948) and the pianist Antonietta Briglia-Giannini. She studied with her father and with Marcella Sembrich. Her first performance was in a concert at Carnegie Hall (1923). She made her stage debut at the Hamburg State Opera (1925) as Aida. She appeared at the State Operas in Berlin, Vienna, and Hamburg. She also sang at Covent Garden, the Salzburg Festivals, in Zurigo, Monte Carlo, Oslo, Brussels, Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Mexico City. She finally arrived at the Metropolitan Opera in 1936, making her debut there as Aida, and remaining there until 1941. While in the States she sang in San Francisco, Chicago, and with the NY City Opera during their first season (1943, opening night Tosca). After World War II she toured Europe again. Always on the move during her stage career, she finally settled in Zurigo where she taught. 

Chronology of some appearances

1925-1930 Hamburg Stadttheater Aida (Aida/Debut)
1928 London Covent Garden Aida (Aida)
1928 London Covent Garden Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1928 London Covent Garden Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1934-1935 Salzburg Festival Don Giovanni (Donna Anna)
1936-1941 New York Metropolitan Opera Aida (Aida/Debut)
1938-1942 Chicago Opera
1939-1943 San Francisco Opera
1943 New York City Opera
1949 Berlin State Opera
1950 Vienna State Opera Carmen (Carmen)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE 









HMV, 1924-03-06
Fà la nanna bambin (Sadero) DA743 (7-53073)

Victor, Camden NJ 1926-02-01
In mezo al mar (Sadero) 1192 BVE29632

HMV, 1926-05-11
I love you truly (Jacobs-Bond) DA808 (3-3105)

HMV, 1926-06-17
Carmela (arr Hague & Ross) DA839 (7-63022)
Cielito lindo (trad, Mexican) DA839 (7-63038)

HMV 1927-08-17
Aida (Verdi) O patria mia DB1093 (2-053300)
Aida (Verdi) Ritorna vincitor DB1093 (2-053297)

HMV, Milano 1928-10-29
Forza del destino (Verdi) La Vergine degli angeli (w. chorus) DB1228 (2-053345)

HMV, London 1928-12-17
Forza del destino (Verdi) Pace mio Dio (w. chorus) DB1228 (2-053344)
Forza del destino (Verdi) Son giunta (w. chorus) DB1217 (2-053342)

HMV, Berlin 1929-01-25
Allerseelen Op 10 No 8R (Strauss) DA1029 (7-43117)
Zueignung Op 10 No 1R (Strauss) DA1029 (7-43118)
Heimliche Aufforderung (R Strauss) DA1319 (30-10657)
Ständchen (R Strauss) DA1319 3010658
Die Schöne Müllerin (Schubert) Wohin 2-043119 4952-1
Funiculi Funicula (Denza) DA4447 ORA3227
Estrellita (Ponce) DA4447 ORA3229 
Gretchen am Spinnrade (Schubert) DB916 (2-043051)
Heimliche Aufforderung (R Strauss) DA1319 (30-10657)
Zueignung Op 10 No 1R (Strauss) DA1029 (7-43118)
Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Un bel dì DB1264 (2-053349)
Manon Lescaut (Puccini) In quelle trine morbide DB1264 (2-053350)
Ständchen (R Strauss) DA1319 3010658
Von ewiger Liebe (Brahms) DB848 (2-043039)

HMV, Berlin 1938-09-13
Lustige Witwe (Lehár): Vilja-Lied DA4446 0RA3226
Lustige Witwe (Lehár): Lippen schweigen with Wittrisch DA4446 0RA3228
Estrellita (Ponce) DA4447 ORA3229
Funiculi Funicula (Denza) DA4447 ORA3227
Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Wer in euren Landen with Wittrisch DB 1960 32-3838
Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Willst du nun endlich mir sagen with Wittrisch DB 1960 32-3837
O sole mio (di Capua) DB1247 (2-053347)


2 comments:

  1. This is an exciting recording of the duet I believe to be the most beautiful of all soprano-tenor duets in all of opera. Giannini may not be the ideal Butterfly but her partner, Marcel Wittrisch, is wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful photos !!! Thank you very much !

    ReplyDelete