Description

FERNANDO VALERO (TENOR) (ÉCIJA, SEVILLA, 6 DECEMBER, 1854 – ST. PETERSBURG, NIGHT OF JANUARY 11 TO 12, 1914)

 

 

 

 

He initially studied law but later turned to singing under Martin Salazar and the legendary tenor Enrico Tamberlick. He made his debut as Lorenzo at the Teatro Real in Madrid in 1878, performing in D. Auber’s opera Fra Diavolo. From 1880, he performed in Italy, making his first appearance at the Teatro Brunetti in Bologna in A. Ponchielli’s I Promessi Sposi. He continued to perform in various provincial theatres throughout Italy in operas such as La Favorita, Faust, I Puritani, and La Sonnambula. In 1882, he sang in Buenos Aires, in 1884 in Vienna, and in 1885 in St. Petersburg.

He arrived at Milan’s La Scala in 1883, making his debut as Faust in C. Gounod’s opera Faust. His collaboration with La Scala was successful for nearly a decade, with Milanese audiences eventually dubbing him “Il Piccolo Gayarre” in reference to the great Spanish tenor. At La Scala, he performed in the first Italian version of G. Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles (1886) and in 1891, he sang Turiddu in the premiere of P. Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, a role he also originated in Florence. He further distinguished himself in 1895 with his portrayal of Werther at La Scala.

By 1897, towards the end of his career, he suffered from a pulmonary illness, which forced him to take a prolonged break from singing. He eventually retired in 1902 and settled in St. Petersburg, where he established a vocal academy.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1881 Milano Manzoni Rigoletto (Duca)

1881 Milano Dal Verme Rigoletto (Duca)

1881 Berlino Westend Rigoletto (Duca)

1886 Milano La Scala I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1886 Lisbona San Carlos I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Havana Tacon I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Roma Apollo I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Roma Argentina I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1888 Buenos Ayres Colon I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1889 Lisbona San Carlos I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

1890 Londra Covent Garden I Pescatori di Perle (Nadir)

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

G&T, London 1903-06-16

1. Dormi pure (Scuderi) 52716 3922b

2. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola (Siciliana) 52717 3924b

3. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Viva il vino (Brindisi) 52718 3925b

4. El amor es la vida (de los Moteros) (Sp) 52719 3926b

 

G&T, Milano 1903-10

5. Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile 52009 Con280

6. Mattinata (Tosti) 052022 Con672