Description

LUISA BERTANA (QUILMES, BUENOS AIRES, JANUARY 1, 1889 – BUENOS AIRES, JULY 26, 1933)

 

 

 

 

She began her education under Rinaldi in Buenos Aires and made her debut in 1921 at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires as Preziosilla in La forza del destino. She later moved to Italy, where Arturo Toscanini engaged her to perform at La Scala. She debuted there in 1922 as Maddalena in Rigoletto and subsequently enjoyed a glittering career at the theater.

On May 1, 1924, she performed the role of Rubria in the posthumous premiere of Boito’s opera Nerone under Toscanini’s direction. In 1926, she appeared at La Scala in the Italian premiere of Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina as Marfa. She continued to perform frequently at La Scala, the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, and the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, as well as other major Italian venues. Notable premieres included Boito’s Nerone (1928) and Giuseppe Mulè’s Dafni.

In Buenos Aires, she maintained a strong presence at the Teatro Colón, where she participated in several opera premieres, including Manuel de Falla’s La vida breve (1923), Pizzetti’s Debora e Jaele, Boito’s Nerone (1926), Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina (1929), and Respighi’s La campana sommersa. She also sang in the premiere of the Argentine opera Ollantay by Constantino Gaito on July 23, 1926.

On June 6, 1933, she performed the role of Adalgisa in Norma at the Teatro Colón. Shortly after falling ill, she succumbed to pneumonia. She was married to the Italian conductor Angelo Questa.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1923 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Trovatore (Azucena)

1923 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Trovatore (Azucena)

1923 San Paolo Teatro Municipal Trovatore (Azucena)

1926   Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Trovatore (Azucena)

1927 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Trovatore (Azucena)

1928 San Paolo Teatro Municipal Norma (Adalgisa)

1928Roma Teatro dell’Opera Norma (Adalgisa)

1928 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Trovatore (Azucena)

1929 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Norma (Adalgisa)

1930 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Norma (Adalgisa)

1931 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Norma (Adalgisa)

1932 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Norma (Adalgisa)

1932 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Norma (Adalgisa)

1933 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Norma (Adalgisa)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Nerone (Boito): La confessione Or tutto e confessato with Carlo Galeffi DB732 2-054142 HMV, Milano 1924-05-15
2. Nerone (Boito): Laggiu tra i giunch with Carlo Galeffi DB732 2-054143 HMV, Milano 1924-05-15
3. Trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri mondi with Aureliano Pertile 74944 xxPh 5586 Fonotipia, Milano 1925-05-05
4. Ballo in maschera (Verdi): La rivedro with Aureliano Pertile, Antonio Righetti, Ines Maria Ferraris and Cesare Baromeo 74973 xxPh 5680 Fonotipia, Milano 1926-04-02
5. Ballo in maschera (Verdi): E scherzo with Aureliano Pertile, Antonio Righetti, Ines Maria Ferraris and Cesare Baromeo 74974 xxPh 5666 Fonotipia, Milano 1926-04-02
6. Mi ranchito viejo! (Canción argentina) (trad) 152038 Pho5720 Fonotipia, Milano 1926-04-14
7. Amico Fritz (Mascagni): O pallida, che un giorno mi guardasti 168778 Mo3404 Odeon/Fonotipia, Milano 1931-01-16