Description

PIA RAVENNA (HELSINKI, 25 OCTOBER, 1894 – HELSINKI, 19 OCTOBER, 1964)

 

 

 

 

Her real name was Hjördis Sophie Tilgmann. She studied for five years with Elin Tallqvist in Helsinki, then for two years with Alma Fohström in St. Petersburg, and later continued her studies in Sweden and Milan. She gave her first concert in 1913, and in 1917, she joined the Finnish Opera, where she performed intermittently until 1940. She sang with the Monte Carlo Opera in 1921, performed with the Egyptian Stazione group from 1921 to 1923, in Sardinia from 1923 to 1924, and in Central Europe from 1924 to 1928. She also appeared as a guest artist at the Helsinki Swedish Theater in 1929 and 1933.

Her primary roles included Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Mimì in La Bohème, Gilda in Rigoletto, Marguerite in Faust, the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, and the title roles in Lucia di Lammermoor, Madama Butterfly, Lakmé, and Manon. In 1929, she established a voice studio in Helsinki with her husband, Alessio Costa, known as the Studio Ravenna-Costa, and she taught at the Helsinki Conservatory (now the Sibelius Academy) from 1936 to 1939. Her Italianate coloratura was a rarity in Finland, and her stylistic interpretations earned her international acclaim. Her brother, Arnold Tilgmann, was also a singer, known as a tenor.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1921 Alessandria d’Egitto Teatro Alhambra Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1922 Porto Said Teatro Eldorado Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia)

1923 Roma Teatro Adriano Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1924 Como Teatro Sociale Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Una voce poco fa… Io sono docile 02139, 02139, 1626A, 1627A Vox, Berlin 1924-0203
2. Kehtolaulu (Wiegenlied) (Hannikainen) B36024 64043 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-25
3. Kun päivä paistaa (Merikanto) B36024 64047-2 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-27
4. Lapselle (Merikanto) B36025 64049 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-25
5. Leivonen (Villanelle) (dell’Acqua) B36023 64055-2 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-27
6. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Spargi d’amaro pianto 02163 1629½A Vox
7. Mä elän! (Merikanto) B36025 64048 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-25
8. Mademoiselle Rococo (Melartin) B36023 64044-2 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-27
9. Mireille (Gounod)  O legere hirondelle 02172  1630A Vox
10. När jag blev sjutton år (trad) B36028 64058 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-26
11. Polska från Uppland (trad) B36028 64059 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-26
12. Rarahu (Ranta) B36027 64057 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-26
13. Rigoletto (Verdi) Ah! Solo per me… No, vecchio, t’inganni with Fausto Ricci 120122 XXPh6079, 120122  XXPh6080 Fonotipia, Berlin 1928-01-05
14. Rigoletto (Verdi) Caro nome  02163  1628A Vox
15. Satakieli (Solovej) (Alabieff) B36027 64056-3 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-27
16. Se tu m’ami (Parisotti, label Pergolesi) 02172 1631A Vox, Berlin 1924-0203
17. Taivas on sininen ja valkoinen (trad, arr Merikanto) B36026 64046-2 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-27
18. Traviata (Verdi) Dite alla giovine… Morro, morro la mia memoria with Fausto Ricci 120126 XXPh6083, 120126 XXPh6084 Fonotipia, Berlin 1928-01-05
19. Tuoll’ on mun kultani (trad, arr Ekman) B36026 64045 Parlophon, Berlin 1929-08-25