Description

GIOVANNI POLESE (VENICE, 1873 – INDUNO OLONA, 1952)

 

 

 

He studied singing in Venice and made his debut in 1894 at the Teatro Unione in Viterbo in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda. He retired from the stage in 1928 and remained in the United States, where he taught singing.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1894 Viterbo Teatro Unione Gioconda (Barnaba)

1896 Novara Teatro Coccia Gioconda (Barnaba)

1898 Odessa Teatro Municipale Ugonotti (Nevers)

1900 Genova Politeama Genovese Carmen (Escamillo)

1902 Modena Teatro Municipale Ugonotti (Nevers)

1904 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Manon (Lescaut)

1906 Alessandria d’Egitto Teatro Zizinia Iris (Kyoto)

1908 Madrid Teatro Reale Carmen (Escamillo)

1910 Philadelphia Teatro Opera Boheme (Marcello)

1912 Boston Opera House Fanciulla Del West (Rance)

1914 Chicago Civic Opera House I Dispettosi Amanti di A. Parelli (Don Fulgenzio)

1916 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Loreley (Hermann)

1918 New York Teatro Manhattan Puritani (Riccardo)

1926 Chicago Civic Opera House Cavaliere Della Rosa (Faninal)

1928 Chicago Civic Opera House Sansone e Dalida (Gran Sacerdote)

 

 

GUALTIERO PAGNONI (PESARO, 1867 – ?)

 

 

 

In 1898 he appeared in the world premiere of Mascagni’s Iris at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1888 Torino Teatro Carignano Francesca da Rimini (Alberigo)

1889 Genova Teatro Paganini Adriana Lecouvreur (Duca di Chazeuil)

1892 Codogno Teatro Sociale I Promessi sposi (Don Rodrigo)

1898 Roma Costanzi Iris (merciaiolo)

1901 Parma Politeama Reinach Il barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

 

 

PERICLE PALOMBI (ROMA 1877/1878 – ?)

 

 

 

Like a restless troubadour in search of laughter and applause, he dedicated an important part of his career to the sparkling world of operetta. In November 1903, he appeared with the Cecchi Operetta Company at the Teatro Malibran in Venice, later traveling across the ocean to Cuba, where in May 1905 he took part in a full operetta season at the Teatro Nacional in Havana. The applause chased him back to Italy, and by September 1907 he was again on stage in Milan at the Teatro Dal Verme, continuing his journey with operetta troupes.

Although light-footed comic roles seemed to be his favored playground, he also ventured into the buffo baritone repertoire. In May 1908, he sang Belcore in L’elisir d’amore at the Teatro Alfieri in Turin, followed the next year by Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale at the Teatro Lirico in Milan.

His wanderlust persisted. In August 1910, he found himself in Rosario di Santa Fé, Argentina, performing with the Operetta Company of the City of Milan at the Teatro dell’Opera. By January 1913 he was back in Italy, joining the Lauri-Ronzi Operetta Company for a season at the Teatro Comunale of Ferrara.

Even during wartime, the stage remained his refuge. In December 1915, he sang in Parma at the Politeama Reinach with the vibrant troupe “L’Italianissima,” performing operettas and comic operas to lift the spirits of their audiences.

Through comedy and melody, from grand Italian houses to faraway South America, his career radiated the joy of theatre, leaving behind a trail of light music and lively characters.

 

 

GIOVANNI NOVELLI (ACQUI TERME ? – ?)

 

 

 

He studied singing at the Scuola Musicale in Acqui Terme under the pedagogue Tullio Battioni. Later he continued his studies in Milan with Nicola Lentini. In 1898 he made his debut at the Teatro Civico in Cuneo in La Traviata. From 1924 onward, he appeared in both principal and comprimario roles on various stages. He retired from the stage in 1932.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1897 Cuneo Teatro Civico Traviata (Germont)

1899 Vicenza   Teatro Verdi Boheme (Marcello)

1901 Alba Teatro Sociale Manon Lescaut (Lescaut)

1903 Alessandria d’Egitto Teatro Zizinia Manon Lescaut (Lescaut)

1905 Biella Teatro Sociale Carmen (Escamillo)

1907 Modena Teatro Municipale Werther (Albert)

1909 Alessandria d’Egitto Teatro Alhambra Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1911 Catania Teatro Bellini Tosca (Scarpia)

1914 Casale Monferrato Teatro Kursaal Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1917 Bologna Teatro Del Corso Boheme (Marcello)

1919 Palermo Teatro Biondo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1924 Lucca Teatro Del Giglio Carmen (Dancairo)

1926 Como Teatro Sociale Anna Karenina di I. Robbiani

1928 Parma Teatro Regio Rigoletto (Marullo)

1931 Salerno Teatro Verdi Tosca (Scarpia)

1932 Rovigo Teatro Sociale Rigoletto (Marullo)

 

LEONE PACI (PANICALE, PERUGIA, 1887 – MILANO, 1981)

 

 

 

He made his debut in 1910 at the Teatro Civico in Acquapendente (province of Viterbo) in Donizetti’s La Favorita, after completing his musical studies in Rome. During the First World War, he appeared at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, including in 1917 in the premiere of Mascagni’s Lodoletta. In the 1918–19 season he was engaged at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, where he sang, among other roles, Lescaut in Massenet’s Manon. He returned to Palermo in 1922 to perform the title role in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.

In the 1920–21 season he achieved great success in Rome in Madama Butterfly, Aida, and La Bohème. In addition to his major dramatic roles, he also appeared in buffo repertoire. His first appearance at La Scala took place in 1914, debuting as Donner in Das Rheingold, after which he continued to perform there for many years. On March 24, 1934, he sang at La Scala in the premiere of Lodovico Rocca’s Il Dibuk, and he also took part in the premiere of Franco Alfano’s Madonna Imperia. Earlier, on May 18, 1929, he appeared at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples in the premiere of Felice Lattuada’s Don Giovanni, and on April 19, 1930 at the same theater in Alfano’s L’ultimo Lord.

He performed only rarely outside Italy. In his final years, he resided at the Casa di Riposo “G. Verdi” in Milan. Paci left a small but valuable discographic legacy, including three records and two complete operas, Andrea Chénier and Pagliacci.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1910 Acquapendente   Teatro Boni I Lombardi Alla Prima Crociata (Pagano)

1914 Gorizia Teatro Sociale Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1917 Roma Teatro Costanzi Fanciulla Del West (Rance)

1919 Genova   Politeama Genovese Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1921 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Le Donne Curiose di E.Wolf Ferrari

1924 Torino Politeama Chiarella Il Piccolo Marat (Carpentiere)

1927 Milano Teatro La Scala Crepuscolo Degli Dei (Alberico)

1931 Bologna Teatro Duse Isabeau (Raimondo)

1935 Torino Teatro Regio Il Dibuk di L.Rocca (Reb Sender)

1939 Ravenna Teatro Alighieri Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1944 Parma Teatro Regio Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Bartolo)

1948 Reggio Emilia Teatro Municipale Boheme (Benoit/Alcindoro)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Giovanni Polese Thaïs (Massenet): Ecco dunque l’orribile città BA 28118 Edison 4-min cylinders, Milano 1910

Giovanni Polese Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Romanza BA 28160 Edison 4-min cylinders, Milano 1910

Giovanni Polese Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Aspetta, aspetta cara sposina with Antonio Pini-Corsi 54280 7560½b G&T, Milano 1905

Gualtiero Pagnoni Rigoletto (Verdi): Deh non parlare al misero 52395 2809b G&T, Milano 1902-11

Gualtiero Pagnoni Rigoletto (Verdi): Cortigiani, vil razza dannata 52390 2804b G&T, Milano 1902-11

Gualtiero Pagnoni Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Eri tu G&T 52387 2800b G&T, Milano 1902-11

Pericle Palombi Rigoletto (Verdi): Pari siamo 42184 Beka

Giovanni Novelli Aida (Verdi): Si fuggiam da queste mura with Elvira Magliulo and Orazio Cosentino 24023 A-494 Zonophone, USA

Giovanni Novelli Aida (Verdi): Rivedrai le foreste… Non sei mia figlia with Teresa Chelotti 12674, 12675 Zonophone, USA

Leone Paci Aida (Verdi): Finale A.II° with Ferdinando Ciniselli, Erminia Rubadi, Bruno Carmassi and Eva Turner D5311 WB1022 Columbia, Milano 1926

Leone Paci Gioconda (Ponchielli): Gia ti veggo with with Ferdinando Ciniselli, Erminia Rubadi, Bruno Carmassi and Eva Turner D14659 WBX28 Columbia, Milano 1926