Description

ENRICO DE FRANCESCHI (PADUA, 1885 – TURIN, 1945)

 

 

 

 

At a very young age, he moved to Argentina, where he began his vocal studies and soon made his stage debut in 1907 at the Teatro Urquiza in Montevideo as Amonasro in Aida. The following year he was already heard in Italy, appearing at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan as Rigoletto. In 1909 he performed in Corfu at the Teatro Nuovo as Germont in La Traviata, before returning permanently to Argentina, where he remained active until 1921, appearing at the most important theaters of South America (Buenos Aires, Rosario, Montevideo, Valparaíso). His repertoire there included roles such as Figaro, Alfio, Malatesta, Melot, Nelusko, and Amonasro.

In 1921, De Franceschi returned to Italy, beginning a long career that lasted until the mid-1940s. He established himself as a dramatic baritone of authority, performing in major Italian and Spanish theaters, and later also at La Scala in Milan. His repertoire expanded to include Renato, Alfonso in La Favorita, Jago, Scarpia, Tonio, Carlo in La Forza del Destino, Sharpless, Gérard, Belcore, and the Count di Luna, alongside his most celebrated roles: Rigoletto and Jago, both of which he sang extensively.

Among his notable later successes were appearances at the Teatro Reale of Madrid (1927), Teatro Massimo of Palermo (1928), Teatro Petruzzelli of Bari (1925, 1930, 1933), Teatro La Fenice of Venice (1923), Teatro Lirico of Milan (1932), Teatro La Scala of Milan (1938), and Teatro Regio of Parma (1926, 1941).

His final years remained active despite the difficulties of wartime Italy. His last appearances were in 1945 at the Teatro Municipale of Piacenza, where he sang Rigoletto. Shortly afterwards, he tragically ended his own life.

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Orfeo (Monteverdi) Orfeo son io… Tu se’ morta (w. Marone) DB5377, DB5377 La Voce del Padrone

Orfeo (Monteverdi) Possente spirto DB 5377 La Voce del Padrone

Otello (Verdi) Era la notte D9475  B604 Columbia

Otello (Verdi) Era la notte P1609 2-6503 Parlophon, Berlin 1923-10-12

Otello (Verdi) Si pel ciel (w. Cortis) P1609 2-6498 Parlophon, Berlin 1923-10-12

Re di Lahore (Massenet) O casto fiore 2072 Fonografia Nazionale

Rigoletto (Verdi) L’acciar qui piago (w. Fumagalli-Riva) Parlophon P 1613 2-6510

Rigoletto (Verdi) Larà, larà… Cortigiani, vil razza dannata 2079 Fonografia Nazionale

Rigoletto (Verdi) Miei signori 2080  Fonografia Nazionale

Rigoletto (Verdi) Pari siamo 35038 Brunswick

Tannhauser (Wagner) Allor che tu con l’estro 35056 Fonit

Tannhauser (Wagner) O tu’bell astro 35038B Brunswick

Torna (Denza) 20577 Edison 2-min cylinders, Milano 1907/1908

Traviata (Verdi) Dite, alla giovine… Non, amario ditegli (w. Fumagalli-Riva) P1614 2-6490, P1614 2-6491 Parlophon, Berlin 1923-10-10

Vorrei (Tosti) 20578 Edison 2-min cylinders, Milano 1907/1908