Description

INES DE FRATE (ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT, 1854 – MILAN, ITALY, 24 JULY, 1924)

 

 

 

 

Ines Bigliotti, better known by her stage name Ines De Frate, was a distinguished Italian soprano born into a family from Livorno. She likely made her operatic debut in 1892 in the role of Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata at the opera house in Piacenza. Her career quickly gained momentum, and by 1895, she was performing at the Teatro Politeama in Buenos Aires.

In 1896, she appeared at the Teatro Adriano in Rome in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda, and the same year, she performed at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa as Maria in Mascagni’s Guglielmo Ratcliff. She also had the honor of guesting at La Scala in Milan in 1895, where she sang the role of Leila in Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles. Her repertoire was particularly noted for her interpretations of Verdi’s heroines, which solidified her reputation as a leading soprano of her time.

In 1901, she performed again in La Gioconda at Teatro La Fenice in Venice. In 1907, she appeared in Reggio Emilia as Norma in Bellini’s opera of the same name, a role that became one of her signature performances. She also extended her artistry to sacred music, singing the soprano solo in Rossini’s Stabat Mater in Berlin in 1902.

After establishing herself in Europe, she moved to America, where she continued to perform with other renowned Italian opera singers. At the Teatro Tivoli in San Francisco, she gained great acclaim for her performances in Lucrezia Borgia, Aida, and Norma, with the latter being one of her most celebrated roles. During her time in America, she also gave a series of concerts under the direction of the composer Pietro Mascagni.

Her operatic career likely came to a close around 1908. After retiring, she spent her later years at the Casa di Riposo Giuseppe Verdi in Milan, a home for retired musicians founded by the composer himself.

Her legacy extended through her daughter, Isabella de Frate, who followed in her footsteps with a promising career as an opera singer. Sadly, Isabella’s career was cut short by her untimely death.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1892 Piacenza Opera Theatre Traviata (Violetta)

1895 Rome Teatro Argentina Norma (Norma)

1895 Milan La Scala Pescatori di perle (Leila)

1896 Genoa Teatro Carlo Felice Guglielmo Ratcliff (Maria)

1898-1899 Milan La Scala Norma (Norma)

1901 Venice Teatro La Fenice Gioconda (Gioconda)

1902 San Francisco Teatro Tivoli Aida (Aida)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Nabucco (Verdi): Anch’io dischiusa 53554 10939b G&T, Milano 1907
2. Norma (Bellini): Casta diva 053191 1349c G&T, Milano 1907
3. Stabat Mater (Rossini) Inflammatus 053192 1378c G&T, Milano 1907
4. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): Nel pieghi del sudario with Francesco Signorini 54374 11200b Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
5. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): John dite che ci apprestino with Gaetano Pini-Corsi, Giuseppe Quinzi-Tapergi and Amina Santoro 54391 11203b Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
6. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): Lord Clifford qui desidera with Francesco Cigada and Giuseppe Quinzi-Tapergi 54389 1462c Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
7. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): Signore, vi presento with Francisco Granados, Giuseppe Quinzi –Tapergi and Francesco Federici 054234 1465c Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
8. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): Sui vanni suoi la morte Jenny with Francesco Signorini 054232 14662c Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
9. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): Ah! Patria infame with Francesco Signorini 054231 1467c Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
10. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): Gli amici suoi perche with Francisco Granados and Francesco Cigada 054236 1470c Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
11. Chatterton (Leoncavallo): Un angiol sei! Ma datti pace with Francesco Cigada 054238 1471c Gramophone, Milano 1908-05
12. Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): M’odi, ah m’odi 53552 11302b Gramophone, Milano 1908
13. Aida (Verdi): Fuggiam gli ardori with Francesco Signorini 054213 1492c Gramophone, Milano 1908