Description

GIOVANNI GRAVINA (? 1872 – HAVANA, CUBA, 1912)

 

 

 

 

He began his stage career around 1895 in Italy. In 1902, he sang for the first time at La Scala in Il Trovatore, appearing alongside Rosa Caligaris, Julian Biel, and Antonio Magini-Coletti. On March 11, 1902, he also took part in the world premiere of Franchetti’s Germania at La Scala, with Enrico Caruso, Amelia Pinto, and Mario Sammarco.

In the following years, he achieved great success not only in Italy but also in South America and, above all, in Russia, where he appeared almost annually, often in partnership with the celebrated baritone Mattia Battistini.

During the 1907–08 season, he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he appeared only once, as Sparafucile in Rigoletto. In 1912, he enjoyed a notable success at the Boston Opera in Verdi’s Aida, performing opposite Carmen Melis.

His life ended tragically. During a performance of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia in Havana, Cuba, he was accidentally stabbed in the right eye by the famous tenor Florencio Constantino during a swordplay scene. Although Constantino compensated him with $50,000, the singer suffered greatly and died from his injuries four weeks later.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1896 Politeama Castagnola Catania ‘’Rigoletto’’ with Antonio Agresti, Emilia Balvetti and Emanuele Bucalo and Carmelina Vega

1896 Politeama Castagnola Catania ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’ wih with Antonio Agresti, Emilia Balvetti and Emanuele Bucalo and Carmelina Vega

1896 Politeama Pacini Catania ‘’Norma’’ with Antonio Ceppi, Elisa Ferrari, Hilda Brizzi and Emanuele Bucalo

1897 Teatro Nazionale Catania ‘’La Traviata’’ with Antonio Papa Annina Franco and Vittorio Ferraguti

1897 Teatro Nazionale Catania “La forza del destino’’ with De Salvin, Annina Franco,  Giuseppe La Puma and Enrico Dondi

1902 La Scala Milan ‘’Il Trovatore’’ with Julian Biel, Rosa Caligaris and Antonio Magini-Coletti

1904 Teatro Comunale Bologna “I maestri cantori di Norimberga” with Giuseppe Krismer, Amina Matini, Gaetano Pini-Corsi, Giuseppe De Luca and Arturo pessina.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

Giovanni Gravina made 4 records for G&T, 1902

 

G&T, Milano 1902-04

Juive (Halévy) Se oppressi ognor 52341 1710b

Robert le diable (Meyerbeer): Evocazione   52342 1711b

Simon Boccanegra (Verdi): Romanza   52367 1713b

Gioconda (Ponchielli): La turbini e farnetichi 52343 1714b