Description

GAETANO BREDA

 

 

 

Gaetano Breda was an Italian tenor active between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who enjoyed a notable career in Italy and abroad. He probably made his debut in 1899 at the Politeama Garibaldi in Treviso as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème. In the same year, he appeared in Milan at the Teatro dei Filodrammatici as Arturo in Bellini’s I Puritani, and later in Alexandria at the Teatro Zizinia in Wagner’s Tannhäuser (as Walter).

During the following seasons, Breda performed a wide and diverse repertoire across Italy, including Verdi, Donizetti, and verismo roles. He sang Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, des Grieux in Manon Lescaut, Faust in Gounod’s Faust, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore. His voice was suited to both lyric and spinto parts, and he was praised for his elegant phrasing and bright upper register.

From 1905 onward, Breda undertook an extensive international tour through Spain, Gibraltar, Tangier, Portugal, and North Africa, performing in major theaters of Granada, Seville, Barcelona, Porto, and Cádiz. His repertoire during these tours included La Bohème, Carmen, Pagliacci, Ernani, Faust, Tosca, La Traviata, and I pescatori di perle.

Gaetano Breda’s career activity can be traced until around 1906, after which information about him becomes scarce.

 

 

 

ITALO RIGHI BRIANI (SANDRIGO, 28 NOVEMBER, 1883 – MILANO, 1962)

 

 

 

 

Italo Righi Briani was an Italian tenor, particularly renowned for his powerful interpretations of Verdi’s Otello.

He studied singing in Padova under the pedagogue Orefice and later perfected his technique with Ugo Fratti. He made his operatic debut in 1909 at the Teatro Eretenio of Vicenza, appearing as Des Grieux in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. His career soon took him to important theaters in Italy and abroad, where he developed into one of the most respected dramatic tenors of his generation.

Righi Briani’s repertoire included the great tenor roles of Verdi and Puccini, but it was especially as Otello that he gained wide recognition. In Italy, he was considered among the finest interpreters of the role during the 1920s. He also enjoyed success with other demanding parts such as Manrico in Il Trovatore, Don José in Carmen, Canio in Pagliacci, and Alfredo in La Traviata.

He appeared at many theaters, including the Politeama Regina Margherita in Cagliari, Teatro Reale in Malta, Teatro Rossini in Venice, Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo, and abroad in Kiev’s Teatro Solodownikoff. His international and national engagements testify to the strength and dramatic quality of his voice.

In the later years of his career, Righi Briani continued to perform in smaller theaters, still winning admiration for his portrayals, particularly of Otello and Canio. He spent his final years at the “Casa di Riposo G. Verdi” in Milan, the renowned musicians’ home founded by Verdi himself.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1909 Vicenza Teatro Eretenio Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)

1911 Cagliari Politeama Regina Margherita Traviata (Alfredo)

1913 Malta Teatro Reale Guarany (Pery)

1915 Venezia Teatro Rossini Trovatore (Manrico)

1917 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Trovatore (Manrico)

1919 Cremona Politeama Verdi Trovatore (Manrico)

1921 Palermo Politeama Garibaldi Trovatore (Manrico)

1922 Molfetta Anfiteatro Della Fenice Carmen (Don Josè)

1924 Kiev Teatro Solodownikoff Otello (Otello)

1926 Castiglione delle Stiviere Teatro Sociale Otello (Otello)

1927 Merano Teatro Civico Otello (Otello)

1930 Milano Teatro Della Commenda Pagliacci (Canio)

1931 Palermo Politeama Garibaldi Pagliacci (Canio)

 

 

GIUSEPPE BERTINI (PRATO, 1870 ? – ?)

 

 

 

He performed at various provincial opera houses, also making guest appearances abroad. His career progressed as follows:

 

1895 Firenze Teatro Niccolini Favorita (Fernando)

1896 Terni Politeama Ternano Trovatore (Manrico)

1899 Lodi Teatro Gaffurio Rigoletto (Duca)

1904 Roma Teatro Quirino Ernani (Ernani)

1906 Teatro Comunale Traviata (Alfredo)

 

 

LODOVICO TOMARCHIO (CATANIA, 1886 – LOS ANGELES, 1947)

 

 

 

 

He studied in Catania under the teacher Adernò and made his debut in 1910 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome as Arlecchino in Pagliacci. From 1923, he began appearing in the United States, where he permanently settled in 1931. After retiring from the stage, he settled in Los Angeles and devoted himself to teaching. He also appeared in several films, including the famous Adventure in Vallechiara with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1910 Roma Teatro Costanzi Pagliacci (Arlecchino)

1912 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Carmen (Don Josê)

1914 Reggio Emilia Teatro Municipale Tannhauser (Tannhauser)

1916 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Crepuscolo Degli Dei (Sigfrido)

1920 La Spezia Politeama Duca di Genova Nadeja di C. Rossi

1922 Firenze Teatro Verdi Norma (Pollione)

1924 Cincinnati Zoo Stagione

1926 Dallas Fair Park Auditorium Marta (Lionello)

1929 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Pagliacci (Canio)

1930 San Francisco Opera Lohengrin (Lohengrin)

 

 

RINALDO SCHENONE (GENOVA, 1890 – ?)

 

 

 

 

In 1923, he was engaged for the season at the Coliseo Buenos Aires. He later decided to move to the United States in pursuit of an operatic career. After returning temporarily to Italy, he once again went back to the United States, where he also devoted himself to musical theatre.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1916 Rome Teatro Adriano Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1918 Rome Teatro Nazionale Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1919 Modena Teatro Storchi Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1920 Catania Teatro Bellini Pagliacci (Canio)

1921 Genova Teatro Paganini Pagliacci (Canio)

1922 Palermo Teatro Biondo Forza del Destino (Alvaro)

1923 Buenos Ayres Teatro Coliseo Aida (Radames)

1924 New York Manatthan Opera House Pagliacci (Canio)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Gaetano Breda Lohengrin (Wagner): Mercè cigno gentil X-456 Zonophone, Milano 1902-03/04

Gaetano Breda Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Serenata 430 Zonophone, Milano 1901-11/12

Gaetano Breda Fra Diavolo (Auber): Qiel uom dal fiero aspetto 413 Zonophone, Milano 1901-11/12

Italo Righi Briani Otello (Verdi): Esultate D9357 42354 Columbia, Milano 1914

Italo Righi Briani Otello (Verdi): Niun mi tema D9358 42355 Columbia, Milano 1914

Italo Righi Briani Otello (Verdi): Dio mi potevi scagliare D9358 42356 Columbia, Milano 1914

Italo Righi Briani Otello (Verdi): Ora e per sempre addio D9357 42357 Columbia, Milano 1914

Giuseppe Bertini Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile 137 Phonodisc Mondial, Milano 1908

Giuseppe Bertini Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti): Di pescatore ignobile 208 Phonodisc Mondial, Milano 1908

Giuseppe Bertini Ave Maria (Gounod) 254 Phonodisc Mondial, Milano 1908

Lodovico Tomarchio Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba Private record

Rinaldo Schenone Die Walküre (Wagner): finale, Act I with  Giuseppina Baldassarre-Tedeschi 74230 xxPh 5299 Fonotipia Milano, 1919-01-01

Rinaldo Schenone Samson e Dalila (Saint-Saens): Figli miei v’arrestate  152526 Pho 5503 Fonotipia Milano, 1922-01-01

Rinaldo Schenone Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Mazurka with Giuseppina Baldassarre Tedeschi 152527 Pho 5502 Fonotipia Milano, 1922-12-01