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

 

 

Ernani (Verdi) Tu sei Ernani (w. Cunego & Dorini) 41735 Columbia

Falstaff (Verdi) Quando ero paggio E1644 11290 Columbia, Milano 1912

Fanciulla del West (Puccini) Minnie dalla mia casa D 9269 11286 Columbia, Milano

Faust (Gounod)  Dio possente D5509 11176 Columbia, Milano 1911

Faust (Gounod) Che fate qui, Signor (w. Bendinelli & Martino) D5543 11449 Columbia, Milano 1913

Fior di campo (Brogi) CQ1182 B4896 Columbia

Forza del destino (Verdi) Urna fatale CQ1146 WB4910 Columbia, London

Gioconda (Ponchielli) O monumento D17321 11174 Columbia, Milano 1911

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Pescator, affonda l’esca D4376 70467 Columbia, Milano

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Pescator, affonda l’esca E2068 11306 Columhia

Il volontario (Brogi) CQ1182 B4892 Columbia

Isabeau (Mascagni) Gia per terre e castella D9268 11294 Columbia, Milano

Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (Massenet) Legende de la sauce D1491 A895 Columbia, Milano

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Sei splendida lucente D9317 11457 Columbia

Marechiare (Tosti) D9303 41841 Columbia

Nuttata ‘e sentimento (Capolongo) D9303 41822 Columbia

Obstination (de Fontenailles) 2020-M WA6122 Columbia, London

Otello (Verdi) Brindisi 11291 E1645 Columbia