Description

GIOVANNI INGHILLERI (PORTO EMPEDOCLE, SICILY, 9 MARCH, 1894 – MILAN, 9 DECEMBER, 1959)

 

 

 

 

He was trained first as a pianist and discovered his voice while working as a repetiteur. In 1919 he made his debut as Valentin in Faust at the Carcano, Milan, and then went on to sing with considerable success throughout Italy, at the Costanzi in Rome, the S Carlo in Naples (the first of many seasons in 1922, the last being 1948) and La Scala. He was enthusiastically received at his debut in Pagliacci at Covent Garden in 1928, and returned there for the next two seasons and again in 1935. A highlight of his career in London was the 1930 Traviata with Ponselle and Gigli where his ‘steadiness of tone, flawless phrasing and ease of manner’ were commended as a model. He sang at Chicago in 1929, and later in France and Spain. In 1936 he appeared in the premiere of G. F. Malipiero’s Giulio Cesare in Genoa. He continued to prove his worth as a musicianly singer (he was also a composer of opera, ballet and songs) until his retirement in 1953, after which he taught singing in Milan. Recordings show the fine voice and authoritative style that distinguished him in the 1920s; when he returned to the studios after the war, his style had deteriorated, though his tone remained impressive.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1919 Roma  Teatro Nazionale Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1919 Palermo  Teatro Biondo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1919 Palermo  Teatro Biondo Tosca (Tosca)

1920 Palermo  Teatro Biondo Boheme (Marcello)

1920 Reggio Emilia  Politeama Reggiano Boheme (Marcello)

1920 Torino  Teatro Verdi Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1920 Parma  Politeama Reinach Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1921 Genova  Teatro Paganini  Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1921 Genova  Teatro Paganini Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1921 Genova  Teatro Paganini Pagliacci (Tonio)

1921 Finale Emilia  Teatro Sociale Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1922 Palermo  Teatro Massimo Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1922 Bologna  Politeama Margherita Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1923 Faenza  Teatro Masini Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1923 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Ballo in Maschera (Renato)

1924 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Boheme (Marcello)

1925 Firenze  Teatro Della Pergola Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1926 Bologna  Teatro Duse Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1926 Parma  Politeama Reinach Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1928 Varese  Teatro Sociale Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1931 Genova  Politeama Genovese Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1931 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1933 Cagliari Teatro Civico Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1933 Genova  Politeama Genovese Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1937 San Severo  Teatro Comunale Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

1939 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Marcello)

1939 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Aida (Verdi) Ciel! Mio padre… Sù, dunque! Sorgete (w. Poli-Randaccio) 120194, 120194, XXPh6405, XXPh6406 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-20
2. Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Nemico della patria 120193 XXPh6426 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-24
3. Andrea Chénier (Giordano) Son sessant’anni 10428 Pathé, Milano 19261927
4. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Eri tu D1823 CR2424-2 HMV, London 1929-06-19
5. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) All’idea, pt 1, pt 2 (w. Manuritta) 12625 88326, 12625 88327 Pathé, Milano 1926 1927
6. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum D1698 CR2430-2 HMV, London 1929-06-22
7. Boheme (Puccini) O Mimi, tu piu non torni (w. Ciniselli) 168195 Pho6228 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-03-24
8. Ernani (Verdi) Lo vedremo 10428 Pathé, Milano 1926/1927
9. Faust (Gounod) Dio possente 120193 XXPh6425 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-24
10. Forza del Destino (Verdi) Urna fatale AW 239 CF 3573 HMV 1930
11. Gioconda (Ponchelli) O monumento AW 239 CF 3629 HMV 1930
12. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Enzo Grimaldo, pt 1 and pt 2 (w. Cinselli) 168139 Pho6220, 168139 Pho6221 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-03-23
13. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Ora posso morir… Cosi mantieni il patto (w. Poli-Randaccio) Fonotipia 168199, Pho6415, 168199 Pho6416
14. Il Tabarro (Puccini) Nulla! Silenzio! C3772 2EA 13122-I HMV, London 1948-06-15
15. Il Tabarro (Puccini) Perchè non m’ami più (w. Tegani) HMV C3772 2EA13123