Description

ULYSSES LAPPAS (ALESSANDRIA, 1888 – ATHENS, 26 JULY, 1971)

 

 

 

 

His real name was Odysseus Lappas. He studied with Giuseppe Mandolini in Milan and made his debut in 1914 as Enzo in La Gioconda at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan. He also appeared there as Canio in Pagliacci the same year. In 1917, he performed at La Scala in the premiere of Victor de Sabata’s Il Macigno and in 1918, he sang at the Teatro Politeama Reinach in Parma in Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West.

Lappas began his international career in 1919, appearing at the Monte Carlo Opera House in Ruy Blas. The same year, he made a guest appearance at Covent Garden. In 1920, he performed in Cairo in R. Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini. He repeated his success at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in 1920, performing Pagliacci with Elvira de Hidalgo.

In 1925, Lappas returned to Covent Garden as a partner of Maria Jeritza in Fedora. He was also a soloist with the Chicago Opera from 1921-22 and again from 1928-29, making his debut there in La Fanciulla del West. Throughout his career, he appeared at many notable Italian opera houses, including La Fenice in Venice, Politeama Genovese in Genoa, Dal Verme in Milan, Grande in Brescia, Verdi in Pisa, and Petruzzelli in Bari.

In 1934, he sang at La Scala in the premiere of Felice Lattuada’s Don Giovanni. He is believed to have retired around 1940.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1914 Milano Dal Verme Gioconda (Enzo)

1915 Bari Petruzzelli Pagliacci  (Pagliacci)

1916 Milano Dal Verme Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)

1917 Lyon Grand Théâtre Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1918 Pisa Verdi Carmen (Don Jose)

1919 Monte Carlo Garnier Ruy Blas (Ruy Blas)

1920 Cairo Khediviale  Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)

1921 Monte Carlo Garnier Parsifal (Parsifal)

1923 Verona Gli Zingari (Radu)

1925 London Covent Garden Fedora (Loris)

1925 Milano Dal Verme Norma (Pollione)

1928 Brescia Grande Carmen (Don Jose)

1932 Naples San Carlo Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida L1762 98194 Columbia, New York 1926-01-12
2. An me eixes niosei (Si vous l’aviez compris) (Denza) 18142 20795 (Unknown, Greece), 1928
3. Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Come un bel di di maggio 7080-M BX2 Columbia, London 1923-06-29
4. Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Improvviso 7080-M BX1 Columbia, London 1923-06-29
5. Carmen (Bizet) Il fior D1463 B89 Columbia, London 1923-07
6. Den tha xehasso (I will not forget) (Psaroudas) 18119 20808 (Unknown, Greece), 1928
7. Essena pou… agapessa (You that I have loved) (Xanthopoulos) 18119 20780 (Unknown, Greece), 1928
8. Exomologissis (Samara) D1531 A2269 Columbia, London 1925-07 (ac)
9. Fanciulla del West (Puccini) Ch’ella mi creda D1472 B87 Columbia, London 1923-07
10. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Cielo e mar L1762 98204 Columbia, New York 1926-01-12
11. I kardia tes mannas (Mother’s heart) (Hadjiapostolou) 18144 20793 (Unknown, Greece), 1928
12. Manna kai yios (Samaras) D1457W106163 Columbia, New York 1926-04-23
13. Manon (Massenet) Lescaut Tra voi belle D1472 B91 Columbia, London 1923-07
14. Mariori (Core ‘ngrato) (Cardillo) (Gr) 18142 20767 (Unknown, Greece), 1928
15. Markos Botsaris (Carrer) O yero DemosL1703  AX1079 Columbia, London 1925-07-16 (ac)
16. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) No! Pagliaccio non son D9425 B86 Columbia, London 1923-07
17. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Un tal gioco D9427 B85 Columbia, London 1923-07
18. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba D9427 B84 Columbia, London 1923-07
19. Pantrevoun ten agapi mou (Lavdas) D14654 AX1078 Columbia, London 1925-07-16 (ac)
20. To Paramythi tes neraidas (Sakellarides) D1547W106161 Columbia, New York 1926-04-23
21. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle D1463 B88 Columbia, London 1923-07
22. Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia D1456 B90 Columbia, London 1923-07
23. Yiati metho (Triantaphyllou) 7779 W106162-2 Columbia, New York 1926-04-23