Description

EBE STIGNANI (MEZZO-SOPRANO) (NAPLES, ITALY, 10 JULY, 1903 – IMOLA, ITALY, 5 OCTOBER, 1974)

 

 

 

 

Born in Naples, she studied at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella under Agostino Roche. Her talent was soon recognized by the director of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, where she made her debut in 1925 as Amneris in Verdi’s Aida. This performance led to her being immediately engaged by Arturo Toscanini for La Scala in Milan, where she made a stunning debut as Princess Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlo in 1926.

Stignani’s powerful, warm voice and exceptional range made her the leading contralto at La Scala until 1956. She was known for her versatility, excelling in roles such as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Marfa in Mussorgsky’s Khovantchina, and Arsace in Rossini’s Semiramide. In addition to her work at La Scala, she performed at major international venues, including the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Covent Garden in London, and the San Francisco Opera.

Her repertoire extended beyond Italian opera, and she made significant contributions to world premieres, such as Ildebrando Pizzetti’s Fra Gherardo in 1928 and Ottorino Respighi’s Lucrezia in 1937. Despite her global success, Stignani performed only occasionally in North America, with a few notable appearances at the San Francisco Opera and concerts in Minneapolis and New York.

Stignani continued to perform well into the 1950s, with standout performances in Il Matrimonio segreto at the Edinburgh Festival and Ballo in maschera at the Teatro San Carlo. Her final years on stage saw performances in London, Dublin, and Chicago, before she retired. She left behind a rich legacy, documented in the biography by B. De Franceschi and P.F. Mondini, Ebe Stignani (Imola, 1982).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Re dell’abisso BB 25066 70496 Cetra, 1937-1941
2. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Una voce poco fa BB 25098 70637 Cetra, 1937-1941
3. Carmen (Bizet) Habanera D12541 WB1369 Columbia, Milano 1927-04
4. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Voi lo sapete CC 2212 70402 Cetra, 1937-1941
5. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Voi lo sapete, o mamma GQX 11159 CBX 1557 Columbia, Milano
6. Don Carlo (Verdi) Oh! don fatale CC 2211 70400 Cetra, 1937-1941
7. Favorita (Donizetti) O mio Fernando PE 62 2 70020 Cetra, 1937-1941
8. Forza del destino (Verdi) Rataplan, rataplan, della gloria D14721 WBX432 Columbia, Milano
9. Gioconda (Ponchielli) A te questo rosario CC 2212 70403 Cetra, 1937-1941
10. L’amico Fritz (Mascagni) Laceri, miseri CB 20171 70635 Cetra, 1937-1941
11. Marechiare (Tosti) AA 313 51746 Cetra, 1937-1941
12. Mignon (Thomas) Non conosci il bel suol CB 20171 70634 Cetra, 1937-1941
13. Rigoletto (Verdi) with Alessandro Granda, Maria Gentile and Carlo Galeffi L2310 BX301 Columbia, Milano
14. Sansone et Dalila (Saint-Saens) A notte cadente attender piangente DA 5383 HMV, Milano 1939-1946
15. Sansone et Dalila (Saint-Saens) O aprile foriero di sogni DA 5383 HMV, Milano 1939-1946
16. Semiramide (Rossini) Ah! quel giorno ognor rammento BB 25066 70498 Cetra, 1937-1941
17. Serenata (Tosti) AA 313 51743 Cetra, 1937-1941
18. Trovatore (Verdi)  =Condotta ell’era in ceppi with Nino Conti BB 25098 70782 Cetra, 1937-1941
19. Trovatore (Verdi) Condotta ell’era in ceppi, pt 2 D12540 WB1341 Columbia, Milano
20. Trovatore (Verdi) Stride la vampa CC 2211 70401 Cetra, 1937-1941