Description

CESARE FORMICHI (ROME, APRIL 15, 1883 – ROME, JULY 21, 1949)

 

 

 

 

He studied in Rome with Lombardo, and made his debut in December 1907 at the Teatro Olimpia in Bologna as Lescaut in ‘’Manon’’. He went on to appear in Italy’s leading opera houses, including La Scalain Milan. Soon, he was accepting a string of engagements to sing outside Italy, notably in Kiev (in 1912), Buenos Aires (in 1914), Paris (1922), London (1924). He sang as first baritone at the Civic Opera House of Chicago  from 1922 to 1932. Notable roles of his included Ashton, Rigoletto, di Luna, Amonasro, Iago, and some Wagner parts sung in Italian (Klingsor, for example). Formichi possessed a big, rich-toned, important sounding voice which can be heard on the numerous acoustic and electrical recordings which he made during the peak of his career.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1907 Bologna Teatro Olimpia Manon (Lescaut)

1908 Bologna Teatro Olimpia Carmen (Escamillo)

1909  Napoli Teatro San Carlo Aida (Amonasro)

1910 Chicago Auditorium Boheme (Marcello)

1911 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Germania (Worms)

1912 Padova Teatro Verdi Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1913 Cremona Teatro Ponchielli Isabeau (Re Raimondo)

1914 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Parsifal (Klingsor)

1915 Firenze Politeama Fiorentino Dannazione di Faust (Mefistofele)

1916 Palermo Teatro Massimo Fanciulla del West (Rance)

1917 Brescia Teatro Grande Falstaff (Falstaff)

1918 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1919 Ferrara Teatro Comunale Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1920 Palermo Teatro Massimo Lohengrin (Tetralmondo)

1921 Madrid Teatro Reale Thais (Atanaele)

1922 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Aida (Amonasro)

1923 Chicago Civic Opera House Sansone e Dalida (Gran Sacerdote)

1924 Londra Covent Garden Boheme (Marcello)

1925 Madrid Teatro Reale Thais (Atanaele)

1926 Milano Teatro alla Scala Aida (Amonasro)

1927 Chicago Civic Opera House Judith di A. Honegger (Holophernes)

1928 Chicago Civic Opera House Resurrezione di F. Alfano (Simonson)

1929 Chicago Civic Opera House Judith di A. Honegger (Holophernes)

1930 Chicago Civic Opera House Carmen (Escamillo)

1931 Chicago Civic Opera House Aida (Amonasro)

1932 Chicago Civic Opera House Carmen (Escamillo)

1933 Parma Teatro Reale Walkiria (Wotan)

1934 Oslo Teatro Reale Tosca (Scarpia)

1935 Vienna Hohe Warte Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1937 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Giuditta di A. Honegger (Oloferne)

1947 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Boheme (Marcello)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Aida (Verdi) Di Napata le gole (w. Cunego & Moglia) D5571 11498 Columbia, Milano 1913

Aida (Verdi) Finale Act II Part 1 (w. Martino, Cunego, Moglia & Frau) 11494 D4415 Columbia, Milano 1913

Aida (Verdi) Finale Act II Part 2 (w. Martino, Cunego, Moglia  & Frau) D4415 11495 Columbia, Milano 1913

Aida (Verdi) Quest’assisa E1991 11198 Columbia

Aida (Verdi) Rivedrai le foreste…  Su dunque sorgete (w. Chelotti) D 4383 11298, D 4383 11299 Columbia, Milano 1912

Amleto (Thomas) Come il romito fior  E1644 11292 Columbia, Milano 1912

Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Nemico della patria  CQX 16522 WAX 3037 Columbia, Milano

Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Son sessant’ anni D9373 70257 Columbia, Milano

Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Un di m’era di gioia D9373 12990 Columbia, Milano

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Alla vita che t’arride  D4328 11196 Columbia, Milano 1911

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) All’idea di quel metallo… Voi dovreste travestirvi (w. Georgewsky) D 4810, D 4810 Columbia

Boheme (Puccini)  Quartetto (w. Bendinelli, Cattorini & Mion) D 9343 11490 Columbia, Milano

Dinorah (Meyerbeer) Sei vendicata assai D581 11197 Columbia

Ernani (Verdi) Da quel di (w. Dorini) D4417 41754 Columbia, Milano 1913

Ernani (Verdi) Lo vedremo o veglio audace (w. Martino) D4417 11455 Columbia, Milano 1912

Ernani (Verdi) Oh! Dei verd’anni miei D4328 11195 Columbia, Milano 1911