Description

CARLO MORELLI (ZANELLI) (VALPARAISO, CHILE, 1897 – MEXICO CITY, 1970)

Carlo Morelli was born to an Italian father and a Chilean mother. Initially working as an engineer in California, he later pursued singing studies in Bologna and under Leopoldo Mugnone in Florence. His professional debut took place in Italy in 1921.

Career Highlights:

• Italy: Morelli made a notable debut at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in 1923 as Cinna in Spontini’s La Vestale. He also performed as Jochanaan in Strauss’s Salome and participated in the premiere of R. Bianchi’s La Ghibellina. At La Scala, his repertoire included Amonasro in Aida, Gellner in Catalani’s La Wally, Manfredo in Montemezzi’s L’Amore dei tre Re, Tonio in Pagliacci, Gunther in Götterdämmerung, Amfortas in Parsifal, Valentin in Faust, and Carlos in La Forza del Destino. He was part of the premiere of Guarino’s Madonna di Challant in 1927.
• Teatro dell’Opera di Roma: In 1929, Morelli performed as Germont-père in La Traviata, Scarpia in Tosca, Gérard in Andrea Chénier, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Tonio in Pagliacci.
• Opéra de Monte-Carlo: During the 1931-1933 seasons, he sang 15 different roles, including Posa in Don Carlo, Rigoletto, Renato in Un Ballo in maschera, Jack Rance in La Fanciulla del West, Alfonso in Lucrezia Borgia, and Raffaele in I Gioielli della Madonna.
• International Performances: Morelli appeared at the San Francisco Opera House in 1936 as Count di Luna in Trovatore, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Carlo in La Forza del Destino. He was also heard in the American premiere of La Fiamma by O. Respighi at the Chicago Opera in 1935. He made guest appearances at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen in 1928 and 1930.
• Metropolitan Opera: From 1935 to 1940, Morelli was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, debuting as Marcello in Puccini’s La Bohème. He performed primarily Italian dramatic baritone roles, including Barnaba in Gioconda, Jago in Otello, Carlo in La Forza del Destino, Amonasro in Aida, and Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana.
• Later Career: After his time at the Met, Morelli traveled with the San Carlo Opera Company around the USA in 1946. He also made guest appearances at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and other prominent South American opera houses, as well as the Opera House in Mexico City. He eventually settled in Mexico City, where he taught singing.

Family Note: His older brother Renato Zanelli (1892-1935) was a notable baritone turned heroic tenor.

TRACKLIST

1. Rigoletto (Verdi): Cortigiani! Vil razza dannata Columbia DQ686 B1931
2. Credo in un Dio crudel CQX16508 WBX271 Columbia, Milano 1928-04-28
3. Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Un dì m’era di gioia D14465 WBX270 Columbia, Milano 1928-04-28
4. Zazà (Leoncavallo): Zazà piccola zingara D12283 WB1919 Columbia, Milano 1928-04-28
5. Zazà (Leoncavallo): Zazà del mio buon tempo D12283 WB1927 Columbia, Milano 1928-04-28
6. Alma mia (Grever) 17192-D Co25808 Columbia, New York 1940-01-22
7. La Spagnola (di Chiara) 17192-D Co25809 Columbia, New York 1940-01-22
8. Canta il mare (de Leva) 17263-D Co25854-1A Columbia, New York 1940-01-22
9. Violetas (de Tejada) 17283-D Co25881-1A Columbia, New York 1940-01-25
10. Hérodiade (Massenet): Visione fuggitiva D12881 WB1909 Columbia, Milano 1928-04-26
11. Trovatore (Verdi): Il balen del suo sorriso D12282 WB1930 Columbia, Milano 1928-04-30
12. Si alguna vez (Ponce) 17263-D Co25855 Columbia, New York 1940-01-22
13. Perjura (de Tejada) 17283-D Co25882-1A Columbia, New York 1940-01-25
14. Traviata (Verdi) Dite alla giovine with Aida Cipelli Columbia DQ687 B1933
15. Rigoletto (Verdi): Miei signori Columbia DQ686 B1932
16. Otello (Verdi): Era la notte D12881 WB1929 Columbia, Milano 1928-04-28