Description

LEOPOLDO DAGRADI (STRADELLA, PAVIA, 1871 – COMO, 1928)

 

 

 

 

He studied at the Regio Conservatorio of Milan and later with Dal Fiume. He made his debut in 1900 at the Politeama Garibaldi in Acqui Terme in La Traviata. By 1903, he was already performing as a guest artist in Kiev and Constantinople. In Italy, Dagradi primarily developed his career in smaller theaters, such as the Teatro Comunale in Corfù, the Teatro Verdi in Spalato, the Teatro della Lizza in Siena, and the Teatro Nuovo Sociale in Guastalla.

In 1914, he shifted the focus of his career to Australia. Between 1914 and 1917, he performed successfully in several Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. After retiring from the stage, he taught at the Albert College of Music in Sydney.

His repertoire included roles such as Canio in Pagliacci, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut, Vasili in Siberia, and Radamès in Aida.

During a brief visit to Italy, he collapsed and died.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1900 Acqui Terme Politeama Garibaldi Traviata (Alfredo)

1903 Kiev Teatre of Saladovnikov Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)

1903 Constantinople Teatro Concordia Traviata (Alfredo)

1904 Corfù Teatro Comunale Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1906 Spalato Teatro Verdi Ugonotti (Raoul)

1909 Siena Teatro Della Lizza Aida (Radames)

1911 Guastalla Teatro Nuovo Sociale Aida (Radames)

 

 

REMO SANGIORGI (BAGNACAVALLO, 1875 ? – ?)

 

 

 

 

In 1904, he performed at the Politeama Reinach in Parma as Radamès in Aida, with Maria Grisi (Aida), Olga Benvenuti (Amneris), Marino Aineto (Amonasro), Camillo Fiegna (Ramfis), and Alessandro Panciera (Re).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1904 Parma Politeama Reinach Aida (Radames)

1905 Bagnacavallo Teatro Comunale Lucia di Lammermoor (Edgardo)

1906 Mantova Teatro Sociale Dannazione di Faust (Faust)

1907 Genova Politeama Alfieri Ernani (Ernani)

1908 Bologna Teatro Olimpia Ernani (Ernani)

1909 Cuneo Teatro Toselli Wally (Hagenbach)

 

 

RENATO AZZARRI

 

 

 

In 1901, he performed at the Teatro Metastasio in Prato as Fernando in La Favorita, together with Jole Marchisio, Camilla Merli, Giuseppe Viggiani, and Giovanni Mannelli.

Chronology of some appearances

 

1901 Volterra Teatro Persio Flacco Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1902 Prato Teatro Metastasio Favorita (Fernando)

1903 Livorno Teatro Alfieri Rigoletto (Duca)

1904 Firenze Teatro Alfieri Rigoletto (Duca)

1905 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Fiamme di M. Pieraccini

1906 Firenze Teatro Alfieri Sarrona di L. H. Legrand

1907 Pescia Teatro Pacini Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1908 Odessa Teatro Sibiriakoff Pagliacci (Canio)

1909 Sanremo Teatro Principe Amedeo Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1910 Pistoia Politeama Mabellini Concerto

1913 Ajaccio Teatro Comunale Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)

 

 

ASCANIO GHELARDINI

 

 

 

Ghelardini’s earliest known appearance dates from 1898, when he sang Parpignol in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Teatro Regio in Parma. After a few years of further study and experience, he emerged as a leading tenor in the comic repertoire. In 1902, he was engaged at the Teatro della Fortuna in Fano, performing the role of Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, a part that would remain central to his repertoire throughout his career.

During 1903, Ghelardini appeared at the Politeama Lombardo in Lodi, alternating as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore and as the Contino in Crispino e la Comare by the Ricci brothers. The following year (1904) saw him active in several Milanese theaters: at the Teatro Carcano in E. Usiglio’s Le donne curiose, at the Teatro della Commenda and later at the Teatro Dal Verme in A. Cagnoni’s Papà Martin.

In 1905, he broadened his repertory with Elvino in Bellini’s La Sonnambula at the Teatro Verdi in Naples, followed by appearances as Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale at the Politeama Garibaldi in Treviso and the Teatro Civico in Vercelli. The following year (1906), he returned to Milan for L’elisir d’amore at the Teatro della Commenda and sang again as Ernesto in Don Pasquale at the Teatro Galletti in Domodossola.

After a brief absence from the stage, Ghelardini reappeared in 1908 at the Teatro Wanda in *Savona and the next year (1909) was active in several towns, including Tradate (Il barbiere di Siviglia as Almaviva), Gualtieri (Mignon as Guglielmo), and Medicina (Don Pasquale as Ernesto).

In 1910, he enjoyed one of his busiest seasons, performing Almaviva and Ernesto at the Teatro Verdi in Sestri Ponente, Don Pasquale at the Teatro Gustavo Modena in Sampierdarena, Faust at the Teatro Sociale in Belluno, and again Ernesto at the Politeama Ariosto in Reggio Emilia. His engagements in 1911 included a return to Don Pasquale at the Teatro Bojardo in Scandiano.

By 1912, Ghelardini expanded his repertoire to include contemporary opera, appearing as Nick in Puccini’s La fanciulla del West at the Teatro Sociale in Rovigo. The following year (1913), he repeated the same role at the prestigious Teatro Massimo in Palermo, and later that year he sang Cassio in Verdi’s Otello at the Teatro Comunale in Forlì.

 

 

LUIGI PASINATI (1890 ? – ?)

 

 

 

He studied singing under Antonio Cotogni and made his debut in Italy. In 1925, he appeared at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia in Carmen, performing opposite Geraldine Farrar, Joseph Royer, and Emma Noé. He then returned to Italy and appeared in concert at the Teatro di Torino alongside Laura Pasini. His career was likely short-lived.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Leopoldo Dagradi Gioconda (Ponchielli): O grido di quest’anima (w. Badini) 054290 117aj Gramophone, Milano 1910-04-06

Leopoldo Dagradi Bohème (Puccini): O Mimì tu più non torni (w. Badini) 54418 148ah Gramophone, Milano 1910-04-13

Leopoldo Dagradi Otello (Verdi): Uragano (w. Sala, Badini & chorus) 054294 132aj Gramophone, Milano 1910-04-13

Remo Sangiorgi Ernani (Verdi): Finale A.I° (w. Grisi, Sala, Cigada & Ottoboni) 54291 8081b G&T, Milano 1906

Remo Sangiorgi Ernani (Verdi): Vedi come il buon vegliardo (w. Cigada, Ottoboni & Grisi) 054079647c G&T, Milano 1906

Remo Sangiorgi Ernani (Verdi): O sommo Carlo (w. Grisi & Cigada) 58372 Victor, USA 1906

Renato Azzarri Ernani (Verdi): Merce diletti amici J 528 Lyrophon, Milano

Renato Azzarri Forza del destino (Verdi): Solenne in quest’ora (w. Rebonato) J 532 Lyrophon, Milano

Renato Azzarri Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere (w. Del Metauro) J 545 Lyrophon, Milano

Ascanio Ghelardini Elisir d’amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima 37436 xM771 Odeon Fonotipia

Luigi Pasinati Tre parole (Bonacci/Ceccori) BVE-33122 Victor, USA