Ettore Brancaleoni (Bass) (Ferrara 1860 - ?)

He made his debut in 1883 at Tosi Borghi of Ferrara in ‘’Favorita’’. In 1903 he founded the Theatrical Association G.Verdi to represent some artists. He retired around 1910.

Chronology of some appearances

1884 Como Teatro Sociale Dolores di S.Auteri Manzocchi (Eremita)

1887 Chioggia Teatro Garibaldi L'Innominato di L.Taccheo (Innominato)

1892 Milano    Teatro La Scala Wally (Stromminger)

1895 Modena Teatro Storchi Lohengrin (Re Enrico)

1901 Milano    Teatro Lirico    Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Basilio)

1904 Vicenza   Teatro Eretenio Manon (Conte)

1909 Crema    Teatro Sociale Adriana Lecouvreur (Principe)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Zonophone, Milano 1901-11/12

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): La calunnia X-184

Zonophone, Milano 1902-09?
Ernani (Verdi) Terzetto with Ida Sambo & Oreste Mieli X-1846

Ernani (Verdi): Infelice e tu credevi   X 1791               

Mignon (Thomas): Del suo cuor calmai le pene X 1792 

Aria di chiesa (Stradella) X-1823

Zonophone, Milano 1902-03/04
Puritani (Bellini): Suoni la tromba with Giovanni Milani X-412

Columbia, Milano 1904?

Forza del destino (Verdi): Maledizione 10208

   

                

Ivan Gryzunov (Baritone) (Moscow 1879 – Moscow 1919)

 

                                                                 Escamilio

                                                                 Barnaba

Trained as a church chorister he studied singing privately while employed in a bank. After a debut in operetta, he sang first with the opera company at the Solodovnikov Theatre in 1903 before joining the Bolshoi, where he sang in the seasons 1904-1915. In 1908-9 and 1915-17, he sang with the Zimin company, Moscow, as well as in recitals. In 1907 Gryzunov with great success appeared at La Scala.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Moscow  Solodovnikov Theatre
1904-1915 Moscow Bolshoi Theatre
1908-1909 Moscow S. Zimin's Opera House
1915-1917 Moscow S. Zimin's Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Moscow 22-1-10

Blow, blow, foul weather (Russian folksong) 4-22086 14126   
Christ is risen, Romance Romans Op 26 No 6 (Rakhmaninov) 4-22062 14125½b

Gramophone, Moscow 24-1-10

Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Eugene Onegin: Should I decide on domesticity 022141 1916c
Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Song of the Varangian guest 022152   1917c

The Prisoner in the Caucasus: The sun was brightly shining in the sky 022153 1918c

Ines-Maria Ferraris (Soprano) (Turin 1882 – Milan 1971)

 

First she studied piano under Antonio Quartero in Turin and appeared already in 1894 publicly as a pianist. Then she also been active as an actress and as a concert singer. her debut as an opera singer occurred in 1908 in Bologna as Philine in ‘’Mignon’’ of A. Thomas. In 1911 she performed at La Scala (beginning role: Carolina in ‘’Il matrinonio segreto’’ of Cimarosa). In 1911 she sang at La Scala in the première  of  ‘’Der Rosenkavalier’’ of  Richard Strauss the role of Sophie. The same part brought her in 1914 to appear at  Rome Opera. At La Scala she appeared  also in 1913 as Colombina in ‘’Le donne curiose’’ of E. Wolf-Ferrari. Arturo Toscanini admired her voice very much. At the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires she sang in the première of E.Wolf-Ferrari’s ‘’Il segreto di Susanna’’, also in Verdi’s ‘’Ballo in Maschera’’ and in ‘’La Wally’’ of Catalani. In 1916 she made guest appearance at the Teatro Massimo, Palermo in ‘’Traviata’’, then in 1920 as Gilda in ‘’Rigoletto’’, in  the 1920-21 season and in 1924 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples. At La Scala she sang among other things in 1925 in ‘’Hansel and Gretel’’ and in 1927 in ‘’Rosenkavalier’’ of R. Strauss together with Spanish Mezzo-soprano Conchita Supervia with whom she was connected friendly. On 27.3.1917 she perfomed at the opera house of Monte Carlo in the premiere of Puccini’s ‘’La Rondine’’ as Lisetta. In 1924 she sang there in the premiere of Chabrier’s new opera  ‘’Une Éducation of manquée’’. Nevertheless, her career with her appearances reached the climax at La Scala After her retirement from the stage in 1934 she worked at the conservatory of Venice, then at the conservatory of Bologna and at the Accademia Chigiana of Siena; later she was active as a pedagogue in Milan.

Chronology of some appearances

1906 Ascoli Piceno  Teatro Ventidio Basso Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Trieste  Anfiteatro Minerva Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906  Barcellona  Teatro Liceo Carmen (Micaela)
1906 Ascoli Piceno  Teatro Ventidio Basso Don Pasquale (Norina)
1907 Genova  Politeama Genovese Don Pasquale (Norina)
1908 Firenze  Teatro Verdi Don Pasquale (Norina)
1908 Lucera  Teatro Garibaldi Rigoletto (Gilda)
1909 Mogliano  Politeama Mafalda Don Pasquale (Norina)
1909 Pesaro  Teatro Rossini Don Pasquale (Norina)
1909 Bologna Teatro Verdi Mognon (Filina)
1910 Il Cairo Teatro Kedivhiale Loreley (Anna)
1912 Rovigo  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1912 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Musetta)
1912 Brescia  Teatro Sociale Don Pasquale (Norina)
1913 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Ballo in maschera (Oscar)
1913 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Loreley (Anna)
1914 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Ballo in maschera (Oscar)
1914 Bologna  Teatro Verdi Boheme (Musetta)
1915 Forlì  Teatro Comunale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1915 Milano  Teatro Dal Verme Ballo in maschera (Oscar)
1916 Udine  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1919 Trieste  Politeama Rossetti Boheme (Musetta)
1924 Milano  Teatro La Scala Boheme (Musetta)
1925 Milano  Teatro La Scala Ballo in maschera (Oscar)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1908?

Fra Diavolo (Santini): Quell'uom dal fiero aspetto with Angelo Santini C533 10725

Ernani (Verdi): Vieni meco with Michele De Padova and Cesare Preve D16253 74704

Ernani (Verdi): O sommo Carlo with Angelo Santini and Michele De Padova D16253 74705
Rigoletto (Verdi): Lassù in cielo with Michele De Padova 10739 D428
Rigoletto (Verdi): Sì, vendetta with Michele De Padova 10733 C522

Columbia, Milano 1914?

Complete Carmen (Bizet) with Luigi Bolis, Fanny Anitua and Cesare Formichi

Complete Rigoletto (Verdi) with Giuseppe Taccani, Cesare Formichi and Vincenzo Bettoni

Fonotipia, Milano 1926-04-02

Ballo in maschera: La rivedro with Aureliano Pertile, Luisa Bertana, Antonio Righetti, Cesare Baromeo & chorus 74973 xxPh 5680

Ballo in maschera: E scherzo with Aureliano Pertile, Luisa Bertana, Antonio Righetti, Cesare Baromeo & chorus 74974 xxPh 5666

Fonotipia, Milano 1928-06-20

Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck): Dance duet, pt 1, pt 2 with Conchita  Supervia 120166 xxPh6328

Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck): Dance duet pt 2 with Conchita  Supervia 120166 xxPh6329

HMV, Milano

Mai Pu, Mai Pu (G Pascoli/G Farina) 100-2432

Odeon, Milano

Rondine (Puccini): Chi il bel sogno di Doretta  B15002 Mo3411

 

        

Eleonora De Cisneros (Mezzo-Soprano) (New York 1878 – New York 1934)

 

Born in New York City as Eleanora Broadfoot, she received her earliest education at St. Agnes Seminary in Brooklyn. She studied singing under Mme. Murio Celli in New York, and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1899. In 1901 she married Count François G. de Cisneros, a Cuban journalist. Between 1900 and 1906 she sang in more than 40 operatic roles in Rome, Milan, Madrid, Lisbon, Vienna, St. Petersburg, London, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney and Melbourne. In 1907 she was Oscar Hammerstein's leading mezzo soprano at the Manhattan Opera House, New York. In 1910 she joined the Chicago Opera Company. During World War I she was a major promoter of liberty bonds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleonora_de_Cisneros

Chronology of some appearances

Amneris 1/20/1911, 1/27/1911, Azucena 1/28/1911, Amneris 2/15/1911, Azucena 2/27/1911, Amneris 3/4/1911, role unknown 3/25/1911, Brangäne 2/23/1912, Ortrud 2/29/1912, Amneris 3/8/1912, Ortrud 3/15/1912, Brangäne 3/22/1912, Amneris 3/25/1912, 10/31/1912, 11/8/1912, 11/11/1912, La reine Gertrude 11/13/1912, 11/19/1912, Brangäne 11/20/1912, Fricka 2/13/1913, Marion 2/21/1913, 2/24/1913, 2/25/1913, Ortrud 12/10/1921, 12/1/1922 (in Filadelfia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé, Milano 1907?
Trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti with Carlo Albani  84512
Aida (Verdi): Ah, tu de' vivere with Carlo Albani 84514

Edison, New York 1913?

Carmen (Bizet): All'udir del sistro il suon 82520          

Semiramede (Rossini): Ah, quel giorno 82521  

Columbia, New York 1914-10/11

Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Nobil signori A5626 37078

Pathe, New York 1916?

Walküre (Wagner): Ho-jo-to-ho 59016 025073A

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): Wachtlied 59016 025073B

Faust (Gounod): Faites-lui mes aveux 62009    

     

Margherita Simonetti (Soprano)

She studied in Paris under Blanche Marchesi and made her debut in 1906 at the Politeama Corino of Alba in Donizetti’s ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’.

Chronolgy of appearance

1906 Alba Politeama Corino Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Homokord, Berlin 1907-

Traviata (Verdi): Aria  1471

Rigoletto (Verdi): Caro nome  1472

Mignon (Thomas): Io son Titania 1475

Homokord, Berlin 1907-03-20

Villanella (dell'Acqua) 1473

Homokord, Berlin 1907-05-16

Traviata (Verdi): Sempre libera 1477

Traviata (Verdi) Un dì felice eterea with Salvatore Giordano 2156
Carmen (Bizet) Mia madre vedo ancora with Salvatore Giordano 2155
Traviata (Verdi) Parigi o cara with Salvatore Giordano 2157

Homokord, Milano 1913-02-01
Rigoletto (Verdi): Il sol dell'anima with Mario Matroiani 2341
Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere  with Mario Matroiani 2338

Virgilio Bellatti (Baritone) (Firenze 1869 - Milano 1917)

 

He made in 1892 at La Pergola in Florence in Pescatori di Perle. He enjoyed excellent reputation and had a long career. According to chronicles of that was appreciated as Beckmesser in Meistersinger and sang the opera many times in different theaters. In 1894 he performed in the new opera of Leoncavallo "I Medici" at the Dal Verme in Milan and later in Naples in the role of Poliziano. In 1896 he was the first Schaunard in Genoa at the Politeama Genovese. In 1899 he took part in a very long tour in the United States. In 1901 he was cast in the first of the new Scala opera of Mascagni "The Masks" and sang the character of Tartaglia and also sang here in Boheme with Caruso and Carelli, and in the same year sang at the Principal of Mexico City and in other Mexican cities (It is said that in Mexico reached a popularity so great that we were selling the sweets with his effigy reproduced on paper). In 1902 took part in the tour mascagniana in the U.S., appearing in ''Iris''. His career ended in 1917, the year of his death.

                                        with Giovanni Zenatello in ''Madama Butterfly''

Chronology of some appearances

1892 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Pescatori di Perle (Zurga)

1895 Livorno Teatro Goldoni Manon (Lescaut)

1898 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Andrea Chenier (Gerard)                

1901 Parma Politeama Reinach Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1905 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1908 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1911 Napoli Teatro Bellini Don Pasquale (Malatesta)

1914 Trieste Teatro Verdi Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1917 Malta Teatro Reale Madame Sans-Gene

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, New York 1906-11?

Rolando di Berlino (Leoncavallo): Preghiera di Giovanni   A 5076 30117          

Columbia, Milano 1910?

Boheme (Leoncavallo): L'influenza del blue E 2044 10930

Fra' Diavolo (Auber): Io son signori un infelice E2089 10490           

Fra' Diavolo (Auber): Grazie al ciel per una serva E2089 10994      

Fedora (Giordano): Egli mi disse E2090 10999 

Fedora (Giordano): La donna russa E2090 11000

Augusto Beuf (Baritone) (Palermo 1887 - Verona 1969)

As a boy he took part in an opera tour of a troupe and performed in operas ‘’Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’ and ‘’Don Pasquale’’. Then he studied violoncello in the Liceo musicale of Palermo and became a cellist in the orchestra of the Teatro Massimo, Palermo. He began his career without real song study. He travelled around with an Italian operetta troupe, the Compagnia Lombardo, Egypt. In Cairo impresario Castellani obliged him for a Greece tour and Balkan tour of his opera society. He made his opera debut in 1908 at the Teatro Comunale of Modica in ‘’Rigoletto’’. In 1913 he guested at the Teatro Biondo, Palermo as Alfio in ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’, in 1914 in Corfu as a Germont in ‘’La Traviata’’. During the First World War he served as a soldier in the Italian army. In the 1917-18 season he studied under the famous Antonio Cotogni in Rome whose last pupil he was. Then in 1918 he appeared again on the stage, namely at the Teatro Carcano in Milan. He had his first big success soon afterwards in 1920 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome where he completed his education with Alfredo Martini. He sang at the Teatro Costanzi in 1920 as Alfio in ‘’Cavalleri rusticana’’ and on 2. 5. 1921 the role of Capitano in the premiere of Mascagni’s opera ‘’Il piccolo Marat’’. During the 1920’s he made guest appearances at La Scala, Milan. In addition he sang a lot in South America, thus in 1927 at the Teatro Colցn, Buenos Aires in ‘’Tosca’’ and ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’. In the 1931-34 seasons he was a member of the Chicago Opera. Since 1934 he also took over bass parts and Wagner's roles; thus he appeared at La Scala as Hans Sachs. In 1935 he guested in Florence in the premiere of the opera ‘’L'Orseolo’’ of  Pizzetti, in 1939 he appeared at La Scala in the premiere of  E. Wolf Ferrari’s  ‘’La Dama Boba’’, likewise in 1939 at the opera house of Rome in ‘’Monte Ivnor’’ of Lodovico Rocca. From 1938-48 he undertook concert tours all over the world, often together with the Toti dal Monte with whom he appeared in Paris and Brussels, in Germany and in Switzerland. During the Second World War he guested in Berlin. In 1946 he appeared only on the English television. In 1953 he sang at La Scala in the premiere of Pizzetti’s opera ‘’ Cagliostro’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1910 Siracusa Teatro Comunale Pagliacci (Silvio)

1917 Roma Teatro Valle Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1920 Palermo Teatro Massimo Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1923 Firenze Teatro Verdi  Falstaff (Ford)

1927 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Tosca (Scarpia)

1930 Catania Teatro Bellini  Lucia Di Lammermoor (Enrico)

1933 Alessandria Teatro Municipale Otello (Jago)

1936 Milano Teatro La Scala Orseolo di I.Pizzetti (Alvise)

1941Asti  Teatro Alfieri Don Pasquale (Don Pasquale)

1945 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Aida (Ramfis)

1950 Parma Teatro Regio Don Giovanni (Leporello)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1926? (ac)
Aida (Verdi): Rivedrai le foreste, pt 1 with Bianca Scacciati D12475 B820

Don Carlo (Verdi): Per me giunto e il di  supremo D 12263  833   
Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Resta immobile D12263 B832

HMV, Milano 1941

Simon Boccanegra (Verdi): Il lacerato spirito  DB5400 BA4372-2 

Don Giovanni (Mozart): La ci darem la mano with Toti dal Monte  DA 5406 BA 4376    

Don Carlo (Verdi): Ella giammai m'amo   DB 5399 2ba4389 

Don Carlo (Verdi): Dormirò sol   DB 5399 2ba4390

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Crudeli! Perche finora with Toti Dal Monte  DA 5406 OBA 4391       

 

Ercole Omodei (Baritone) (Catania 1882 - Milano 1953)

He studied singing under Casalressi and made his debut in 1906 at Teatro Sociale of Pieve di Cento in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1906 Pieve di Cento Teatro Sociale Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1910 Cagliari Teatro Civico Boheme (Marcello)

1913 Sassari  Politeama Verdi Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1917 Piacenza Politeama Traviata (Germont)

1920 Alessandria Teatro Virginia Marini Boheme (Marcello)

1922 San Paolo Teatro Santana Aida (Amonasro)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Milano 1910?
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Finale, act 3, pt 1 with Gherlinzoni, Rossato & Migliardi D9239 10916
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Finale, act 3, pt 1 with Gherlinzoni, Rossato & Migliardi D9239 10917

Zaza (Leoncavallo): Zaza piccola zingara D9243 10908

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Enzo Grimaldo, Principe di Santafior with Gino Martinez-Patti D9246 10925

Gioconda (Ponchielli): O grido di quest'anima with Gino Martinez-Patti  D9246 10926
Bohème (Puccini): O Mimì tu più non torni with Edgardo Gherlinzoni D9263 10920

Lyrophon, Milano 1911/1912?

Rigoletto (Verdi): Un di se ben rammentomi...Bella figlia dell'amore with  Lorenzo Oggero, Albertina Cassani, and Nelda Garroni  J544

Valeria Manna (Soprano) (Pesaro 1897 - Bologna 1974)

She studied at the Pesaro Conservatory and made her debut in 1916 at the Teatro Comunale of Catanzaro in ‘’Trovatore’’. She had a significant career in the Italian provincial opera houses during the 1920s. In 1926 she made guest appearance at the festival in the arena of Verona; she gave guest performances in Alessandria, Philadephia and South America. After end of her carrier she lived as a pedagogue in Bologna; the known tenor Gianni Poggi belonged to her pupils.

Chronology of some appearances

1916 Catanzaro Teatro Comunale Trovatore (Leonora)

1917 Alessandria Teatro Municipale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1918 Alessandria Teatro Municipale Tosca (Tosca)

1919 Genova   Politeama Genovese Aida (Aida)

1924 Modena Teatro Municipale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1926 Parma Teatro Regio Ballo in Maschera (Amelia)

1928 Montecatini Teatro Trianon Stagione

1931 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli  Gioconda (Gioconda)

1934 Rivarolo Teatro Ligure  Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)

1935 Sampierdarena  Teatro Gustavo Modena Tosca (Tosca)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonografia Nazionale, Milano 192? (ac)
Tosca (Verdi) Non la sospiri la nostra casetta with Ettore Bergamaschi 4605
Aida (Verdi) Ciel! Mio padre with Apollo Granforte  2019
Aida (Verdi) Su dunque sorgete with Apollo Granforte 2020

Aida (Verdi): Pur ti riveggo with Ettore Bergamaschi  2021

Aida (Verdi): Fuggiam gli ardori with Ettore Bergamaschi 2022

Aida (Verdi): Aida ove son io? with Ettore Bergamaschi 2025

Aida (Verdi): O terra addio with  Ettore Bergamaschi 2026

Aida (Verdi): Sacerdote io resto a te with Granforte & Bergamaschi Dr4719
Aida (Verdi): Io son disonorato  with Granforte & Bergamaschi Dr4720
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Tu qui Santuzza with Ettore Bergamaschi 2059
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Fior di giaggiolo with Ettore Bergamaschi &
Anna Gramegna 2060
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): No no Turiddu with Ettore Bergamaschi 2061