Tenor Giacomo Lauri-Volpi was born on Dec. 11, 1892 and was orphaned by age 11. He graduated the university and started taking voice lessons, but was forced to serve the Italian Armed Forces during World War One. Once the war was over, however, he was able to embark on his opera career. His first performance was as Arturo in “I {…}
Hector Berlioz is one of the most influential French composers of all time. Born on Dec. 11, 1803, Berlioz was supposed to become a doctor like his father. But he opted for a career in music and soon found himself at odds with the musical establishment in Paris. However, he would win the Prix de Rome in 1830. His first {…}
Baritone Sesto Bruscantini, born on Dec. 10, 1919, would go on to become a major Italian baritone throughout the 20th century. He actually obtained a law degree but turned to vocal studies and by 1947 had won a voice contest organized by RAI. His first professional appearance was in 1946 as Colline in “La Bohème;” his rendition of “Vecchia zimarra” {…}
Puccini himself once stated that “La Fanciulla del West” was his finest score. The opera, which had its world premiere on Dec. 10, 1910 at the Metropolitan Opera, showed the composer and his fascination for exploring “exotic cultures.” In this case, he heads over to California to explore the Gold Rush era. Despite a beloved score, the opera has never {…}
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was one of the most refined and elegant singers of the 20th century. Born on Dec. 9, 1915, in Jarotschin, the soprano performed her first opera in 1928 and began her formal musical studies at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik in 1934. She was actually set on this path after her father was dismissed from his post as the {…}
Pietro Mascagni was a composer of great talent, even if today he remains in the opera conversation because of one great work. He was born on Dec. 7, 1863, in Tuscany. He began his musical studies at age 13 and by 1880, not yet 20, Mascagni had composed a number of works. His first cantata, “In Filanda” premiered in 1881. {…}
José Cura is one of the foremost Argentine artists of the late 20th and early 21st century. Born on Dec. 5, 1962, Cura was always destined for a career of artistic diversity. He was playing the guitar at age 12, directing a chorus at 15, and studying composition at 16. By age 21, he was the assistant conductor of the {…}
José Carreras is one of the most famous tenors of the 20th century. Born in Sants on Dec. 5, 1946, the tenor noted in his autobiography that he was obsessed with Mario Lanza in “The Great Caruso” and this amplified his interest in singing. He started voice studies early on and at age eight, he was taking lessons at Barcelona’s {…}
Maria Callas is considered for many a turning point in the opera. Born on Dec. 2, 1923, in New York (she would later renounce her U.S. citizenship), the soprano received her musical education in Greece and would find her career flourishing in Italy. She made her Italian debut in 1946 in “La Gioconda” in Verona. From there she made a {…}
Donizetti’s “La Favorite” has often been recognized as one of his best, though it hasn’t always had a firm place in the standard repertory. It had its world premiere on Dec. 2, 1840 at the Académie Royale de Musique. The work actually borrows heavily from “L’Ange de Nisida” when Donizetti was forced to give a prominent mezzo role for his {…}
There have been many great Romanian opera stars throughout the 20th century. Leontina Vaduva was among them. Born on Dec. 1, 1960, the soprano studied at the Bucharest Conservatory with Ileana Cotrubas and would go on to a solid international career that saw her appear at major houses in New York, London, Chicago, Paris, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cologne, and Vienna. {…}