Description

MARIO ANCONA (LIVORNO, 28 FEBRUARY, 1860 – FLORENCE, 23 FEBRUARY, 1931)

 

 

 

 

Originally, he studied social sciences and law, and became a diplomat. However, after vocal studies, he made his debut as Scindia (Roi de Lahore) in Trieste in 1890 and his debut at La Scala as the King (Le Cid) in 1890. He created Silvio in Pagliacci at the Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, in 1892 and the same year sang Alphonse (La favorite) at the New Olympic Theatre, London. Also sang for 17 seasons at Covent Garden starting in 1892. He made his Met debut in 1893, and in three seasons sang 91 performances of 17 roles. He also appeared with the Manhattan Opera (1906-08), in Boston (1913-14), Chicago (1915-16), Paris, Lisbon, Barcelona, Warsaw, and Buenos Aires. Ancona appeared in a wide repertory embracing W. A. Mozart ( Don Giovanni , Figaro), Giuseppe Verdi (Germont, Rigoletto, Renato, Amonasro, Iago, Don Carlo in Ernani), Richard Wagner (Wolfram, Telramund, Hans Sachs), Giacomo Puccini (Lescaut, Marcello), Pietro Mascagni (Alfio, David in L’amico Fritz) and many French roles, including Nevers (Les Huguenots), Escamillo and Valentin (Faust). After retirement in 1916, he taught in Florence, Italy.. Ancona, in his singing, coupled old-fashioned  elegance with an effortless technique. He was undoubtedly one of the most important baritones of his period.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1890 Livorno Teatro Goldoni Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1892 Catania Teatro Bellini Carmen (Escamilio)

1892 Catania Teatro Bellini Ernani (Don Carlo)

1893 Mantova Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1897 New York Metropolitan Opera Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1898 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Andrea Cheneir (Gerard)

1898 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ernani (Don Carlo)

1899 London Covent Garden Boheme (Marcello)

1902 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1902 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Ernani (Don Carlo)

1902 Buenos Aires Opera Ernani (Don Carlo)

1902 Buenos Aires Opera Favorita (Alfonso)

1902 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Ernani (Don Carlo)

1903 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ernani (Don Carlo)

1904 Madrid Teatro Reale Ernani (Don Carlo)

1904 Madrid Teatro Reale Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1904 Madrid Teatro Reale Favorita (Alfonso)

1904 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1904 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Marcello)

1904 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Favorita (Alfonso)

1905 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Don Carlo (Rodrigo)

1906 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1906 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1906 New York Manhattan Opera Carmen (Escamilio)

1907 New York Manhattan Opera House Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1907 New York Manhattan Opera House Cavalleria rusticana (Alfio)

1907 New York Manhattan Opera House Ernani (Don Carlo)

1907 Parigi Casa de Reszke Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro) 

1909 Lisbon Teatro San Carlo Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1913 Boston Opera House Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1914 Parigi Teatro Champs Elysees Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1914 Boston Opera House Boheme (Marcello)

1914 Parigi Teatro Champs Elysees Boheme (Marcello)

1915 Torino Teatro Regio Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1915 Chicago Civic Opera House Boheme (Marcello)

1917 Firenze  Teatro Verdi Favorita (Alfonso)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Mattinata (Tosti) (orch acc) 87010 B4396-1 Victor, Philadelphia 1907-04-12
2. Mia sposa sarà la mia bandiera (Rotoli) 88167 C6056-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1908-03-26
3. Otello (Verdi) Credo in un Dio crudel 052080 225m G&T, Milano 1904-12
4. Otello (Verdi) Era la notte 4320, 10184 Pathé, Paris 1906
5. Otello (Verdi) Era la notte 52129 2308L G&T, Milano 1904-12
6. Otello (Verdi) Era la notte 87015 Victor, Camden NJ 1907-12-13
7. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Prologo 4310 Pathé, Paris 1906
8. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Si piò Si può 88055 C4271-1 Victor, Philadelphia 1907-02-27
9. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Si può (Prologo) 052075 380c G&T, London 1904-07-16
10. Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) Del tempio al limitar (w. Caruso) 89007 C4327-1 Victor, New York 1907-03-24
11. Puritani (Bellini) Ah! Per sempre 87014 B4970-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1907-12-13
12. Puritani (Bellini) Suoni la tromba (w. Journet) 88500 C4285-2 Victor, Philadelphia 1907-03-06
13. Rigoletto (Verdi) Cortigiani, vil razza dannata 4322 Pathé, Paris 1906
14. Rigoletto (Verdi) Pari siamo 4326 Pathé, Paris 1905/1906
15. Rigoletto (Verdi) Sì, vendetta (w. Abott) 87500 B4993-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1908-01-06
16. Rigoletto (Verdi) Tutte le feste (w. Abott) 89013 C4991-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1908-01-06
17. Sérénade de Don Juan (Tchaikovsky) 052076 381c G&T, London 1904-07-16
18. Sérénade de Don Juan (Tchaikovsky) 88168 C6057-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1908-03-26
19. Tannhäuser (Wagner) O tu bell’astro 4308 Pathé, Paris 1906
20. Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza 87006 B4273-1 Victor, Philadelphia 1907-02-27
21. Trovatore (Verdi) Il balen 4319 Pathé, Paris 1906