Description

GIUSEPPE VALDENGO (TURIN, MAY 24, 1914 – AOSTA, OCTOBER 3, 2007)

 

 

 

 

He originally intended to become an instrumental musician and studied cello, oboe, and English horn at the Turin Conservatory, but eventually turned to singing, studying with Michele Accoriuti. In 1936 he made his debut at the Teatro Sperimentale in Alessandria as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. That same year he first attracted wider attention at the Teatro Regio in Parma as the title character in Le nozze di Figaro. In 1939 he was engaged by La Scala in Milan, but the outbreak of the Second World War interrupted his career. After being drafted into the Italian army, he served as an oboist in a military band.

In 1945 he returned immediately to La Scala, where he quickly established a strong reputation. In 1946 he undertook a North American tour and appeared at the New York City Centre Opera from 1946 to 1948, making his debut again as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. In 1947 he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York as Tonio in Pagliacci. He remained a member of the Metropolitan Opera until 1954, singing 17 different roles in 90 performances over seven seasons at the New York house, including Marcello in La Bohème, Germont père in La Traviata, the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, and Belcore in L’elisir d’amore. His first role at the San Francisco Opera was Valentin in Gounod’s Faust in 1947.

During his 1947–48 NBC broadcasts, Toscanini assigned him the roles of Amonasro in Aida and Iago in Otello, and personally coached him in the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff. After leaving the Metropolitan Opera in 1954, he continued his career at major Italian opera houses. He sang the title role in Borodin’s Prince Igor at the Teatro Regio in Parma, Michonnet in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur in Turin, and in 1961 appeared in Rome in the world premiere of Renzo Rossellini’s opera Uno sguardo dal ponte (The View from the Bridge). In 1955 he participated in the Glyndebourne Festival. Guest appearances took him to London, Paris, Vienna, Buenos Aires, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Rio de Janeiro, and many other musical centers.

Later in his career he increasingly favored buffo repertoire, including Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Giacomo in Auber’s Fra Diavolo, and operetta roles. He also appeared in sound films, portraying his famous predecessor Antonio Scotti in The Great Caruso. His stage career came to an end in the 1960s, after which he devoted himself extensively to teaching. He published Ho cantato con Toscanini (Rome–Milan, 1962).

 

TRACKLIST

 

‘a Vucchella (Tosti) Recorded in 1949 Decca LX 3020

Aida (Verdi) Ciel! mio padre! with Herva Nelli Recorded in 1949 RCA LM-6132

Amleto (Thomas) O vin discaccia la tristezza Recorded in 1949 Decca X 364 LX 3005

Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Nemico della patria Recorded in 1953 Cetra PE 197

Aprile (Tosti) Recorded in 1949 Decca LX 3020

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Deh, vieni alla finestra Recorded in 1953 Cetra AT 0368

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Son nov’ore with Renato Capecchi Recorded in 1955 Philips A 00323 L

E canta il grillo (Billi) Recorded in 1949 Decca LX 3019

Falstaff (Verdi) Ehi! Taverniere with Cloe Elmo Recorded in 1950 RCA LM-6111

Falstaff (Verdi) L’onore! Ladri! Recorded in 1950 RCA LM-6111

Faust (Gounod) Dio possente, Dio d’amor Recorded in 1949 Decca X 364 LX 3005

Guglielmo Tell (Rossini) Resta immobile Recorded in 1953 Cetra AT 0368

Ideale (Tosti) Recorded in 1949 Decca LX 3020

La mia canzone (Tosti) Recorded in 1949 Decca LX 3020

La Serenata (Tosti) Recorded in 1949 Decca LX 3020

Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Non più andrai Recorded in 1953 Cetra PE 197

L’ultima canzone (Tosti) Recorded in 1949 Decca LX 3020

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Ora a noi, sedete qui with Eleanor Steber Recorded in 1949 Columbia SL-104