Description

GIACOMO RIMINI (VERONA, 22 MARCH, 1887 – CHICAGO, 6 MARCH, 1952)

 

 

 

 

He was an Italian-born, naturalized-American operatic baritone. He was most admired for his interpretations of the works of Giuseppe Verdi. Born and raised in Verona, Rimini studied at the Verona Music Conservatory with Conti Foroni. He began his operatic career in Italy in his early twenties. His first lead role was as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen at the age of 22. In 1910 he sang the role of Albert in Massenet’s Werther at the municipal theatre of Desenzano. He sang with many notable Italian opera houses over the next several years including the Teatro Regio (Turin), the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, and at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. In 1915, Rimini was chosen by Arturo Toscanini to sing the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff at the Teatro del Verme in Milan. He reprised the role later that year with Toscanini at La Scala in the presence of King Victor Emmanuel III. Also in 1915, Rimini met Polish opera singer Rosa Raisa and the two of them fell in love with each other. They married in 1916 and moved to Chicago, Illinois shortly thereafter where they would both establish a long association with the Chicago City Opera Company, the Chicago Civic Opera, and the Ravinia Festival. Rimini had been married once previously to a woman from Rome, Rafaelle Bettei. Rimini and Raisa became naturalized citizens of the United States a few years after moving to Chicago. Although Rimini primarily worked in Chicago, he and his wife did occasionally travel to other parts of the United States for performances, usually performing together. They also maintained a villa in Verona where they would spend their summers and occasionally appear in operas. Most notably, Rimini originated the role of Ping in Puccini’s Turandot at La Scala in 1926 opposite his wife in the title role. He also was the first person to completely record the role of Falstaff, which he also did with La Scala forces in 1932. In addition to Falstaff and Escamillo, Rimini was admired for his portrayals of the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Iago in Verdi’s Otello, Amonasro in Verdi’s Aida, Renato in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, Figaro in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Tonio in Pagliacci, Barnaba in Amilcare Ponchielli’s La Gioconda among others. In addition to frequently singing opposite his wife on the operatic and concert stage, Rimini also performed frequently with Amelita Galli-Curci. The two of them sang their first Figaro and Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia together with the Chicago Opera Company among many other performances. Rimini and his wife both retired from the operatic stage in 1938, deciding to dedicate their time to teaching the next generation of opera singers. They opened a voice/opera school in Chicago which they ran for two decades. As a part of the school, students would travel to Italy with Rimini and his wife to study in Verona, often staying at their teacher’s villa. Rimini and Raisa had one daughter, Rosa Guilietta Segala, who was born in July 1931. Giacomo Rimini died in his sleep on March 6, 1952 at his home in Chicago.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1910 Pistoia  Politeama Mabellini Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1913 Stoccolma  Teatro Reale Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1913 Stoccolma  Teatro Reale Boheme (Marcello)

1915 Piacenza  Teatro Municipale Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1916 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1916 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Boheme (Marcello)

1916 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1916 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1916 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1916 Montevideo  Teatro Solis Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1916 San Paolo  Teatro Municipal Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1916 Chicago  Civic Opera House Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1916 Chicago  Civic Opera House Boheme (Marcello)

1917 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1918 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1918 Rio de Janeiro  Teatro Municipal Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1918 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1918 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1919 Chicago  Civic Opera House Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1919 New York  Lexington Theater Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1923 Chicago  Civic Opera House Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1923 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1925 Chiacago Ravinia Park Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1925 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1926 Los Angeles  Shrine Auditorium Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1926 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1927 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1928 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1929 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1930 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1931 Chicago  Civic Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1933 Treviso  Teatro Sociale Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1933 Modena  Teatro Municipale Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1933 Viareggio Teatro Eden Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Africana (Meyerbeer) Adamastor re dell’acqua profonda 52050 7161 Vocalion, New York 1921-03?
2. Andrea Chénier (Giordano) Nemico della patria B70038 11154 Vocalion, New York 1923
3. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Alla vita che t’arride B-3111 10490 Vocalion, New York 1923?
4. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Eri tu 52047 7119 Vocalion, New York 1921-02
5. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 50108 XE22552 Brunswick, New York 1927-04-20
6. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 55009 5470 Vocalion, New York 1920-02?
7. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Turiddu mi tolse l’onore (w. Raisa) 90004 XE29230A Brunswick, New York 1929-02-08/11
8. Le crucifix (Faure) (w. Raisa) A70032 7143 Vocalion, New York 1921-03?
9. Don Giovanni (Mozart): Là ci darem la mano (w. Raisa) 15131 E22547 Brunswick, New York 1927-04-20
10. El Relicario (Padilla) B60012 10998 Vocalion, New York 1923
11. Ernani (Verdi) Oh de’ verd’anni miei 82497 Odeon, Milano 1911/1912
12. Falstaff (Verdi) L’onore! Ladri! WBX 1181 GQX 10564 Columbia, Milano 1932
13. Fedora (Giordano) La donna russa B-3111 10931 Vocalion, New York 1923?
14. Gioielli della Madonna (Wolf-Ferrari) Apri, bella, la finistrella A60012 11110 Vocalion, New York 1923
15. Gioielli della Madonna (Wolf-Ferrari) Apri, bella, la finistrella 15201 E29235A Brunswick, New York 1929-02-08/11