Description

CLAUDIA MUZIO (PAVIA, ITALY, 7 FEBRUARY, 1889 – ROME, ITALY, 24 MAY, 1936)

Her father worked as an opera director at Covent Garden in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, while her mother sang in the choir of the Metropolitan Opera. Claudia Muzio first studied harp, then voice with Annetta Casaloni in Turin, and later with Elettra Callery-Viviani in Milan. In 1911, she made her debut at the Teatro Petrarca in Arezzo in the title role of Manon Lescaut by Puccini. In 1912, she achieved sensational success in the same role at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan. During the 1913-1914 season, at La Scala in Milan, she was celebrated for her performances as Desdemona in Otello and Fiora in L’amore dei tre re by Montemezzi. In 1914, she also sang the role of Mariella in the world premiere of Smareglia’s Abisso at La Scala.

In 1913, she appeared at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, and in 1914, she made a brilliant guest appearance at Covent Garden, singing Manon, Margherita in Boito’s Mefistofele, and Mimi in La Bohème (with Enrico Caruso as Rodolfo). In 1915, she enjoyed great success at the Havana Opera. In 1916, she was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, debuting as Tosca, and remained one of its leading sopranos until 1921. On December 14, 1918, she sang Giorgetta in the world premiere of Puccini’s Il Tabarro, and in 1920, she performed the role of Tatiana in the Italian premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. At the Met, she also took part in the first performances of Catalani’s Loreley (1922) and Giordano’s Andrea Chénier (1921). Altogether, she appeared in 152 performances at the Metropolitan Opera.

From 1922 to 1932, she sang with equal success at the Chicago Opera. During this time, she made guest appearances at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, as well as in Havana and Rio de Janeiro. In 1926, she performed the title role in Puccini’s Turandot at its South American premiere at the Teatro Colón. At the Teatro Colón, she appeared in 23 different roles and sang in 232 performances, also participating in the world premiere of the Argentine opera Ollontay by Constantino Gaita on July 23, 1926.

In 1926, she returned to Italy, performing triumphantly at leading theaters. In 1934, she was re-engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, though she only sang the roles of Violetta in La Traviata and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. On February 15, 1934, she created the title role in the premiere of Licinio Refice’s sacred opera Cecilia at the Rome Opera.

In 1932, she sang Tosca for the opening of the new San Francisco Opera House, where she had previously performed during the 1924-1926 seasons. During the 1935-1936 season, she undertook a South American tour. On May 24, 1936, after a brief illness, she passed away in a Rome hotel from what was officially described as heart failure at the age of 47. She is buried in the Cimitero del Verano in Rome. Her goddaughter was the soprano Claudia Pinza Bozzolla.

TRACKLIST

1. Cecilia (Refice): Per amor di Gesù (L’annuncio, pt 1) (orch: Refice) BQX2500 CBX1335 Columbia, Milano 1934-04-19?
2. Cecilia (Refice): O chiara sposa (L’annuncio, pt 2) (orch: Refice) BQX2500 CBX1336 Columbia, Milano 1934-04-19?
3. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Voi lo sapete  BQX2501 CBX1337 Columbia, Milano 1934-04-19?
4. Colombetta (Buzzi-Peccia) BQX2501 CBX1338 Columbia, Milano 1934-04-19?
5. Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d’arte BQ6000 CB6957 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-04
6. Bohème (Puccini): Donde lieta uscì BQ6003 CB6958 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-04
7. Forza del destino (Verdi): Pace, pace mio Dio BQX2505 CBX1358 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-04
8. Trovatore (Verdi): Tacea la notte placida BQ6002 CB6963 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-05
9. Bohème (Puccini): Sì, mi chiamano Mimì BQX2508 CBX1359 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-05
10. Andrea Chénier (Giordano): La mamma morta BQX2507 CBX1360 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-05
11. Sonnambula (Bellini): Ah, non credea mirarti BQX2506 CBX1361 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-06
12. Norma (Bellini): Casta diva (w. chorus) BQX2502 CBX1362 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-06
13. Mefistofele (Boito): L’altra notte BQX2504 CBX1363 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-06
14. Traviata (Verdi): Teneste la promessa… Addio del passato BQX2509 CBX1364 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-06
15. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea): Poveri fiori BQ6001 CB6966  Columbia, Milano 1935-06-07
16. Beau soir (Debussy) BQ6001 CB6976  Columbia, Milano 1935-06
17. Bonjour, Suzon (Delibes) BQ6000 CB6977  Columbia, Milano 1935-06
18. Spirate pur, spirate (Donaudy) BQ6002 CB6980 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
19. Ninna-nanna della Vergine (Mariae Wiegenlied) (Reger) BQ6003 CB6985 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
20. Ombra di nube (Refice) (orch: Refice) BQX2502 CBX1365 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
21. Cecilia (Refice): Grazie, sorelle (orch: Refice) BQX2503 CBX1366 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
22. Cecilia (Refice): Padre, ho pregato (w. chorus) (orch: Refice) BQX2503 CBX1367 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
23. Ave Maria (Refice) (orch: Refice) BQX2506 CBX1368  Columbia, Milano 1935-06
24. Otello (Verdi): Già nella notte densa (w. Merli) BQX2510 CBX1369 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
25. Otello (Verdi): Ed io vedea (w. Merli) BQX2510 CBX1370 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
26. Otello (Verdi): Dio ti giocondi, o sposo (w. Merli) BQX2511 CBX1371  Columbia, Milano 1935-06
27. Otello (Verdi): Esterrefatta fisso (w. Merli) BQX2511 CBX1372 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
28. Les filles de Cadiz (Delibes) BQX2508 CBX1373 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
29. C’est mon ami (Crist) BQX2509 CBX1374 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
30. Arlesiana (Cilea): Esser madre è un inferno BQX2507 CBX1375 Columbia, Milano 1935-06-11
31. O del mio amato ben (Donaudy) BQX2504 CBX1376 Columbia, Milano 1935-06
32. Se tu m’ami (Pergolesi) BQX2505 CBX1377 Columbia, Milano 1935-06