Description

GIUSEPPE DE LUCA (ROME, 25 DECEMBER, 1876 – NEW YORK, 26 AUGUST, 1950)

 

 

 

 

He early evinced promise as a singer, entering a singing school at the age of eight appearing in its choir as a boy s. of astonishing range. He entered the Santa Cecilia Accademia as early as 1892, when he was only fifteen. He studied five years with Venceslao Persichini (one of the most important coaches of the time). He was soon the prize pupil of the class (Tita Ruffo was another student at the same institute). In 1897, shortly before his twenty-first birthday, he made his début singing Valentin in Piacenza. The next important step was Milan. He appeared at the Teatro Lirico and La Scala for eight seasons. In 1907, 1910, 1911 he made guest appearances at Covent Garden and he also visited Poland and Russia. He was in formidable company where br.s were concerned: Scotti, Ruffo, Pacini and Sammarco were all on the roster of La Scala at his time. After 1915 he joined the ensemble of the Met and remained there as leading br. until 1946 (more than thirty years). He regularly appeared in South America, Spain, England, Russia, Germania and Austria. He created roles in several operas: Massenet’s Grisélidis and Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur in 1902, in 1903 Giordano’s Siberia and Sharpless in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. Among his most frequent partners were Caruso, Rosa Ponselle, Claudia Muzio, Giovanni Martinelli, John McCormack, Adamo Didur and José Mardones. He sang Sancho Panza opposite Chaliapin at the world première of Massenet’s Don Quichotte in 1910. He had a repertoire of nearly 100 roles! He was an outstanding actor and was particularly acclaimed in character- and buffo roles. He sang the whole Verdi and Puccini repertoire. Apart from that he was successful as Wolfram and Beckmesser. He was a great Mozart singer (Don Giovanni, Figaro). His career lasted almost five decades! Comment: Clemens Höslinger writes: “De Luca’s recordings are among the most treasured belcanto documents known to to posterity. He was an artist who combined exquisite musicality and taste with a voice of rare distinction. His cultivated tone production, his legato technique and, not least, his pellucid diction make him paragon of vocal virtues…” De Luca was a master of legato singing. He used his voice with great skill. There is a wonderful nobility in his manner, and his singing commands attention by virtue of it as well as by its beauty. He had a strong sense of duty and always sang what was within the possibilities of his voice. De Luca was a prolific recording artist (he recorded from the very beginning until the end of his career). I cannot mention all his great recordings, but as a start I would recommend the Fonotipia recordings from 1905 and 1907. His voice got extremely well with the recording process. He makes the buffo- and character roles to the best ever recorded (Malatesta, Barbiere and… ). But also the more dramatic arias (in Andrea Chénier, Zazà, Rigoletto, Erodiade, Renato and… ) are superbly sung.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

Il barone Scarpia 12/28/1915, Tonio 3/14/1916, Figaro 3/21/1916, Le grandprêtre de Dagon 11/28/1916, Plunkett 12/19/1916, Escamillo 1/9/1917, Rigoletto 3/6/1917, Sparafucile 3/6/1917, Giorgio Germont 2/5/1918, 2/5/1918, Rigoletto 3/12/1918, Il conte di Luna 4/16/1918, Mârouf 11/19/1918, Il suo visir 11/19/1918, Belcore 11/26/1918, Gianni Schicchi 12/17/1918, Ser Amantio di Nicolao 12/17/1918, Amonasro 1/7/1919, Figaro 2/4/1919, Il conte di Luna 3/4/1919, Don Carlo di Vargas 3/25/1919, Rigoletto 4/8/1919, Sparafucile 4/8/1919, Belcore 12/2/1919, Rigoletto 1/20/1920, Lord Enrico Asthon 4/13/1920, Ye vgeny Onegin 4/20/1920, Rodrigo 1/25/1921, Deputy 1/25/1921, 1/25/1921, Rigoletto 3/15/1921, Rodrigo 2/7/1922, Deputy 2/7/1922, 2/7/1922, Giorgio Germont 2/14/1922, 2/14/1922, Le grand-prêtre de Dagon 4/18/1922, Escamillo 3/13/1923, Giorgio Germont 4/3/1923, Lord Enrico Asthon 2/5/1924, Plunkett 2/19/1924, Magd 2/19/1924, Scindia 3/18/1924, Coppélius 12/2/1924, Dr. Miracle 12/2/1924, Dapertutto 12/2/1924, Sharpless 1/13/1925, Hoël 2/3/1925, Mercutio 2/17/1925, Plunkett 11/10/1925, Sancho Panza 4/6/1926, Ping 11/30/1926, Tonio 12/20/1927, Sharpless 1/3/1928, Figaro 1/31/1928, Dapertutto 2/14/1928, Rigoletto 12/4/1928, Lescaut 1/1/1929, Lord Enrico Asthon 3/26/1929, L’ondino 10/29/1929, Miller 1/14/1930, Mercutio 1/28/1930, Valentin 2/18/1930, Belcore 3/25/1930, Tonio 11/18/1930, Figaro 1/27/1931, Lescaut 3/24/1931, Giorgio Germont 12/1/1931, Rigoletto 1/19/1932, Marcello 2/2/1932, Figaro 3/22/1932, Rigoletto 2/7/1933, Lescaut 3/7/1933, Gianni Schicchi 1/23/1934, Lescaut 1/30/1934, Mercutio 2/20/1934, Marcello 2/13/1940, Giorgio Germont 2/27/1940, Rigoletto 5/21/1946 (in Filadelfia).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Monologo di Michonet 52420 2881b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Amleto (Thomas) Come il romito fior 52425 2887b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) Eri tu che macchiavi 52424 2886b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Serenate  52426 2889b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Bella siccome un angelo 52444 2935b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Favorita (Donizetti) A l’altro ardor with Elvira Ceresoli 54021 2933b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Favorita (Donizetti) Vien Leonora  52423 2885b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Re di Lahore (Massenet) O casto fior 52422  2884b G&T, Milano 1902-12

Siberia (Giordano) O mia bella (w. G. Pini-Corsi, Gennari & Pozzi-Camolla) 054039 Con749 G&T, Milano 1903-1112

Siberia (Giordano) Quest’orgoglio (w. Storchio) 54048 Con394 G&T, Milano 1903-11

 

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Alla vita che t’arride 39946, XPh2317 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-15

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Eri tu 39945 XPh2305 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-14

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 39951 XPh2306 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-14

Brilla la luna (Morlacchi) 39980 XPh2324 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-16

Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) C’era una volta 39165 XPh207 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-04

Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) E che fai tu qui 39168 XPh211 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-04

Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Su queste rose 39170 XPh208 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-04

Dinorah (Meyerbeer) Sei vendicata assai 39952 XPh2313 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-15

Dolce Madonna (de Luca) 39938 XPh2325 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-16

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Deh, vieni alla finestra 39940 XPh2312 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-15

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Bella siccome un angelo (w. Corradetti) 39939 XPh2296 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-12

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Cheti, cheti immantinente…Aspetta, aspetta cara sposina (w. Corradetti) 39975, 39976, XPh2294, XPh2295 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-12

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Pronta io son…Convien far la semplicetta…Via, da brava (w. Gonzaga) 62010, 62011,  XPh2386  XPh2387 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01

Ernani (Verdi) Oh! de verd’anni miei 39944 XPh2307 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-14

Faust (Gounod) Dio possente 39949, XPh2298 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-12

Favorita (Donizetti) A tanto amor 39955 XPh2316 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-15

Favorita (Donizetti) Vien Leonora 39935 XPh2308 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-14

Germania (Franchetti) Ferito, prigionier! 39977 XPh2379 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-29

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Così mantieni il patto!… Ebbrezza! delirio! (w. Burzio) 74043 XXPh2391 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-31

Gioconda (Ponchielli) O monumento! 39950 XPh2328 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-16

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Resta immobile 39983 XPh2366 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-28

Hamlet (Thomas) Come il romito fior 39979 XPh2326 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-16

Hérodiade (Massenet) Vision fuggitiva 39954 XPh2315 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-15

I Due Ciabattini (Ruggi) Ars enico! Veleno! Son morto! (w. Corradetti) 62002 XPh2368 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-28

Ideale (Tosti) 39987 XPh2367 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-28

Impressioni campestri (E voi passate nel vial) (de Leva) 39986 XPh2370 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-29

Linda di Chamounix (Donizetti) Ambo nati in questa valle 39956 XPh2357 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-23

Lungi à amor (Aria antica) (Fasolo) 39984 XPh2371 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-29

Mia sposa sarà (Rotoli) 39978 XPh2327 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-16

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Aprite un po’ quegli occhi 39941 XPh2358 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-23

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Se vuol ballare 39942 XPh2359 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-23

Occhi di fata (Denza) 39169, XPh228 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-04

Pastorale (de Leva) 39937 XPh2303 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-14

Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky) Se all’egual di vaghi augelli 39936, XPh2302 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-14

Rigoletto (Verdi) Pari siamo! 39947 XPh2297 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-12

Roi de Lahore (Massenet) O casto fior 39953 XPh2314 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-15

Tannhäuser (Wagner) O tu bell’astro 39987 XPh2385 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-31

Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza il mar 39948 XPh2356 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-23

Trovatore (Verdi) Il balen 39943 XPh2304 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-14

Zazà (Leoncavallo) Buona Zazà 39985 XPh2372 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-29

Zazà (Leoncavallo) Zazà, piccola zingara 39366 XPh227 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-04

Aida (Verdi) Ciel! Mio padre!… Su dunque… (w. Rethberg) 8207, 8207, CVE58610-1, CVE58611-1 Victor, New York 1930-01-20

Aida (Verdi) Ma dimmi (w. Rethberg & Lauri-Volpi) 8206 CVE58609 Victor, New York 1930-01-20

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Eri tu 74526 C18761-4 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-02-09

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Dunque io son (w. Pons) 17233 CS048405-1 Victor, 1940-03-22

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 74514 C19163-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-02-09

Beau soir (Debussy) 64934 B22649-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-03-21

Benvenuto Cellini (Diaz) De l’art splendeur immortelle 74873 C29438-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-02-05

Berceuse (Grechaninov) 64777 B21488-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-03-06

Bohème (Puccini) Ah Mimì, tu più (w. Gigli) 8069 CVE37836-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1927-02-24

Canta il mare (de Leva) 1036 B29680-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-03-18

Dinorah (Meyerbeer) Sei vendicata assai 74872 C29439-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-02-05

Don Carlo (Verdi) Dio che nell’alma (w. Martinelli) 89160 C25179-2 Victor, 1921-04-11

Don Carlo (Verdi) Per me giunto… O Carlo, ascolta 74697, 64957, C25112-2, B25113-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-03-22

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Pronta io son (w. Bori) 89161 C25297 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-11-02

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Vado, corro (w. Bori) 89162 C25296 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-11-02

Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Venti scudi! (w. Caruso) 89089 C22576-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-02-10

Ernani (Verdi) O de’ verd’anni miei 74506 C18762-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1916-11-27

Ernani (Verdi) O sommo Carlo (w. Anthony, Tedesco & chorus) 8174 CVE43615-2 Victor, New York 1928-04-05

Faust (Gounod) Dio possente 7086 C22647-4 Victor, New York 1929-03-05

Faust (Gounod) Dio possente 74633 C22647-4 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-03-21

Favorita (Donizetti) A tanto amor 74591 C21494-5 Victor, New York 1918-04-02

Forza del destino (Verdi) Invano Alvaro… Le minaccie (w. Martinelli) 8085, 8085, CVE41215-2, CVE41216-2 Victor, 1927-12-08

Forza del destino (Verdi) Sleale! Il segreto (w. Caruso) 89087 C22123-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-07-10

Forza del destino (Verdi) Solenne in quest’ora (w. Gigli) 8069 CVE37837-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1927-02-24

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Ah, pescator affonda l’esca (w. chorus) 8174 CVE41074-4 Victor, New York 1928-01-26

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Enzo Grimaldo (w. Gigli) 8084 CVE41072-2 Victor, New York 1927-11-28

Gioielli della Madonna (Wolf-Ferrari) Apri, bella, la finestrella (w. chorus) 3055 BVE51150-3 Victor, New York 1930-03-24

God bless you, my dear (Holmes Edwards) 64775 B21489-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-03-06

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Resta immobile 66133 B27393-4 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-01-23

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Troncar suoi di (w.Martinelli & Mardones) 95213 C27392-4 Victor, 1923-01-23

Hérodiade (Massenet) Vision fugitive 74744 C22687-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-04-14

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Chi mi frena (w. Galli-Curci, Egener, Caruso, Journet & Bada) 95212 95212 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-01-25

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Chi mi frena (w. Homer, Gigli, Bada, de Luca & Pinza) 10012 CVE41232 Victor, USA 1927-12-16

Marietta (Romilli) 66068 B26418-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-04-18

Mattinata (Fatuo) 64990 B22686-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-04-14

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Se vuol ballare 64673 B19421-2 Victor, New York 1917-03-28

Nuttata ‘e sentimento (Capolongo) 64685 B19547-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-04-02

Occhi di fata (Denza) 1036 B29679-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-03-18

Oi luna (Cardillo) 64912 B22648-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-03-21

Pastorale (Nu zampagnara) (de Leva) 64686 B19548-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-04-02

Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) Del tempio al limitar (w. Gigli) 8084 CVE41071-2 Victor, New York 1927-11-28

Puritani (Bellini) Ah, per sempre 74787 C26417-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-04-18

Rigoletto (Verdi) Ah! veglia, o donna (w. Galli-Curci) 3051 BVE41236 Victor, USA 1927-12-16

Rigoletto (Verdi) Bella figlia dell’amore (w. Galli-Curci, Perini & Caruso) 95100 C19132-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-01-25

Rigoletto (Verdi) Bella figlia dell’amore (w. Galli-Curci, Homer & Gigli) 10012 CVE41233 Victor, USA 1927-12-16

Rigoletto (Verdi) Il nome vostro ditemi (w. Pons) 17233 CS048199 Victor, 1940-03-22

Rigoletto (Verdi) Lassù in cielo (w. Galli-Curci) 88595 C21973 Victor, USA 1918-06-11

Rigoletto (Verdi) Piangi, fanciulla (w. Galli-Curci) 3051 BVE41237 Victor, USA 1927-12-16

Rigoletto (Verdi) Piangi, fanciulla (w. Galli-Curci) 87567 B21975 Victor, USA 1918-06-11

Rigoletto (Verdi) Povero Rigoletto!… Cortigianni, vil razza dannata (w. Anthony & chorus) 8161, 8161, CVE41075-2, CVE43616-1 Victor, New York 1927-1928

Rinaldo (Händel) Lascia ch’io pianga 74572 C21487-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-03-06

Rosa (Romilli) 66158 B27753-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-04-12

Siviglia (Fatuo) 1109 B31853-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-02-17

Son come i chicchi (Cimara) 1109 B31852-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-02-17

Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza il mar 7086 CVE51151-2 Victor, New York 1929-04-10

Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza il mar 74528 C19549-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-04-02

Traviata (Verdi) Dite alla giovine (w. Galli-Curci) 8089 CVE41235 Victor, USA 1927-12-16

Traviata (Verdi) Dite alla giovine (w. Galli-Curci) 88601 C21974 Victor, USA 1918-06-11

Traviata (Verdi) Imponete (w. Galli-Curci) 8089 CVE41234 Victor, USA 1927-12-16

Traviata (Verdi) Imponete (w. Galli-Curci) 88596 C21976 Victor, USA 1918-06-11

Trovatore (Verdi) Il balen 64668 B19162-4 Victor, New York 1917-03-28

Trovatore (Verdi) Per me ora fatale (w. chorus) 3055 BVE59723-1 Victor, New York 1930-03-24

Ultima rosa (Sibella) 64776 B21490-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-03-06

Voi dormite, Signora (Tosti) 66184 B27754-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-04-12

Zazà (Leoncavallo) Non so capir (Il bacio) (w. Farrar) 87568 B23586-1 Victor, 1920-01-19

 

Amarilli (Caccini) DV90005A WX73620A5 Decca, 1946

Bella fanciulla DV90003A WX73622A6 Decca, 1946

Caro mio ben (Giordani) DV90003A WX73622A6 Decca, 1946

Dolce Madonna (trad) DV90004A WX73641A6 Decca, 1946

Pur dicesti (Lotti) DV90004B WX73619B4 Decca, 1946

Recitativo ed aria (Pasquino) DV90005B WX73625A3 Decca, 1946

Selve amiche (Caldara) DV90004A WX73641A6 Decca, 1946

Siciliana (Pergolesi) DV90003B WX73621A6 Decca, 1946

 

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Pianto di Orfeo (Monteverdi – Respighi)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Bella Porta di Rubini (Respighi)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Lungi dal caro bene (Sarti)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Gia il Sole dal Gange (Scarlatti)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Beau Soir (Debussy)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Les Papillons (Chausson)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Fortunio – Maison Grise (Messager)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side A – Requiem du Coeur (Pessard)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Dinorah – Recitative and Aria (Meyerbeer)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Remarks by Mr. de Luca

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – O Cennamelle (Rossellini)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Canta il Mare (di Leva) 1

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Canta il Mare (di Leva) 2

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – A Vucchella (Tosti)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Voi dormite, Signora (Tosti)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Jota (de Falla)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Granadinas (Calleia) 1

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side B – Granadinas (Calleia) 2

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side C – Princesita (Padilla)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side C – Marinella (Serrano)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side C – Ninna nanna (Encore)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side C – Mister Jim (Encore)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side C – Falstaff – Quand’ero paggio (Falstaff – Verdi – Encore)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side C – This little Rose (Encore)

Town Hall Recital 11.I.1947 – EJS 122 – Side C – Marietta (Encore)

Giuseppe DE LUCA : Town Hall Recital 11. I. 1947

Giuseppe DE LUCA – Bariton, Werner SINGER – Piano