Description

AFRO POLI (PISA, 22 DECEMBER, 1902 – ROME, 22 FEBRUARY, 1988)

 

 

 

 

He began his vocal studies in 1925 with the Società Corale Pisana, where he trained under Bruno Pizzi. He made his debut in 1927 at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa, performing as Germont in La Traviata. Between 1937 and 1955, he was a regular presence at La Scala in Milan, where he participated in the premiere of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s La Dama boba on February 1, 1939. In 1937, as part of La Scala’s ensemble, he made guest appearances at the Berlin and Munich State Operas, and in subsequent years he performed in Geneva (1946), at the Wexford Festival (1953), in Dublin (1959), and in Amsterdam (1968).

His career included performances at many major Italian opera houses, from Turin and Venice to Como and Palermo, and he frequently appeared on Italian radio broadcasts. Particularly noteworthy were his appearances at the Rome Opera, where he also took part in the 1949 premiere of Franco Alfano’s Il Dottor Antonio. In 1938, he sang Don Giovanni with the Italian Opera in the Netherlands, and he later made guest appearances at venues such as the Cambridge Theater in London (1947), the Teatro San Carlos in Lisbon (1946 and 1950–1955), Madrid (1946), and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris (1956 as Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia). His international engagements also took him to Spain, South America, Australia (1955), Germany, and Switzerland.

He appeared in sound films as well, notably portraying Amonasro in a film adaptation of Verdi’s Aida with Sophia Loren, though Gino Bechi provided the singing voice. After retiring from the stage in 1969, he taught in Ankara and later in Melbourne, Australia, where he remained active in opera education. In 1978, he returned to the stage briefly to perform the role of Conte Rodolfo in Bellini’s La Sonnambula at the Adelaide Theater. His rich and expressive voice was often compared by critics to that of the famous baritone Mariano Stabile.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1924 Bottrighe Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1925 Milano Teatro Carcano Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1927 Pisa Teatro Verdi Tosca (Scarpia)

1927 Pisa Teatro Verdi Traviata (Germont)

1929 Roma Teatro Quirino Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1930 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Lohengrin (Tetralmondo)

1930 Genova Politeama Genovese Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1930 Genova Politeama Genovese Tosca (Scarpia)

1930 Genova Politeama Genovese Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1930 Genova Politeama Genovese Traviata (Germont)

1931 Livorno Politeama Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1931 Pisa Teatro Verdi Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1931 Napoli Politeama Giacosa Tosca (Scarpia)

1931 Napoli Politeama Giacosa Traviata (Germont)

1931 Trieste Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

1931 Torino Teatro Balbo Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1931 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Pagliacci (Tonio)

1932 Catania Teatro Bellini Lohengrin (Tetralmondo)

1932 Cuneo Teatro Civico Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1932 Milano Teatro Carcano Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1932 Pisa Politeama Rigoletto (Rigoletto)

1932 Genova Teatro Margherita Tosca (Scarpia)

1932 Genova Teatro Margherita Traviata (Germont)

1932 Genova Teatro Paganini Tosca (Scarpia)

1932 Genova Teatro Paganini Traviata (Germont)

1932 Catania Anfiteatro Ganci Tosca (Scarpia)

1932 Catania Anfiteatro Ganci Traviata (Germont)

1933 Torino Teatro Alfieri Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)

1933 Torino Teatro Alfieri Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1933 Torino Teatro Alfieri Boheme (Marcello)

1933 Como Teatro Sociale Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

1933 Lugano Teatro Apollo Tosca (Scarpia)

1933 Lugano Teatro Apollo Traviata (Germont)

1933 Lugano Teatro Apollo Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1935 Tunisi Teatro Municipale Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

1935 Tripoli Teatro Miramare Ballo in maschera (Renato)

1936 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Carmen (Escamillo)

1936 Genova Teatro Principe Amedeo Don Pasquale (Malatesta)

1936 Firenze Teatro Verdi Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1937 Milano Teatro La Scala Pescatori di Perle (Zurga)

1937 Novara Teatro Coccia Don Pasquale (Malatesta)

1938 ‘S-Gravenhage Koniklijke Schouwburg Boheme (Marcello)

1938 ‘S-Gravenhage Koniklijke Schouwburg Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)

1938 ‘S-Gravenhage – Gebouw Voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1938 Amsterdam Teatro Carrè Pescatori di Perle (Zurga)

1938 Amsterdam Teatro Carrè Tosca (Scarpia)

1938 Amsterdam Teatro Carrè Traviata (Germont)

1938 Milano Castello Sforzesco Tosca (Scarpia)

1938 Milano Castello Sforzesco Traviata (Germont)

1939 Milano Castello Sforzesco Traviata (Germont)

1940 Trieste Politeama Rossetti Tosca (Scarpia)

1940 Trieste Politeama Rossetti Traviata (Germont)

1940 Como Teatro Sociale Tosca (Scarpia)

1940 Como Teatro Sociale Traviata (Germont)

1940 Prato Teatro Metastasio Tosca (Scarpia)

1940 Prato Teatro Metastasio Traviata (Germont)

1940 Fano Teatro Della Fortuna Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1941 Pisa Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

1942 Bologna Teatro Comunale Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

1946 Pisa Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Ecco il monologo PE 199 F 055 Cetra, 1953
2. Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Aspetta, aspetta, cara sposina (w. Poli) C2531 2M817-1 HMV, Milano 1932
3. Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Bella siccome un angelo (w. Badini) C2520 2M813-2 HMV, Milano 1932
4. Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Cheti, cheti immantinente (w. Badini) C2531 2M814-2 HMV, Milano 1932
5. 6. Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Pronta io son (w. Saraceni) C2524 2M900, 2M901-1 HMV, Milano 1932
6. Falstaff (Verdi) È sogno o realtà PE 199 F 056 Cetra
7. 9. Falstaff (Verdi) Signore, v’assista il cielo!, pt 1, pt 2 (w. Stabile, Nessi & Donaggio) GX61009, GX61009, 026637, 026638 Telefunken, 1942
8. Fior di campo (Brogi-Pinelli) DA5384 0BA3795 HMV, Milano 1940
9. L´elisir d´amore (Donizetti) Come Paride vezzoso (w. Noni, Valletti & Rizzoli) LPC 1235 Cetra, 1952
10. L´elisir d´amore (Donizetti) Quanto amore! (w. Saraceni) R 10828 0M 212, 213-II HMV, Milano 1932
11. L´elisir d´amore (Donizetti) Venti scudi (w. Valetti) LPC 1235 Cetra, 1952
12. Madonna Fiorentina (Billi-Lorenzini) DA5384 0BA3796-1 HMV, Milano 1940
13. Mia sposa sarà la mia bandiera (Rotoli) R10812 0M682-1 HMV, Milano 1932
14. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Sei là! (w. Petrella) LXT 2845 Decca
15. Turandot (Puccini) Keiner schlafe (w. Merli, Del Signore, Zagonara & Ghione) O-8427a 2-70159 Odeon
16. Turandot (Puccini) Olà Pang! Olà Pong! (w. Zagonara & Del Signore) CC 2070, 2071, 2-70154, 70152, 70155 Cetra, 1938
17. Turandot (Puccini) Wohlan, bedien’ dich! Hier ist der Name! (w. Merli, Del Signore, Zagonara & Ghione) O-8427b 2-70151 Odeon
18. Visione veneziana (Brogi) R10812 0M683 HMV, Milano 1932