Description

LUCIANO NERONI MALASPINA (RIPATRANSONE, 11 FEBRUARY, 1909 – RIPATRANSONE, 23 OCTOBER, 1951)

He was the second son of a noble family from Ripatransone, the Counts Neroni Malaspina. His father, Carlo, was a dialect poet and amateur composer, while his mother, Ilda Boccabianca, hailed from a family steeped in musical tradition. His maternal uncle, Enrico Boccabianca, was a pupil of renowned composer Amilcare Ponchielli, his aunt Teresa a famous mezzo-soprano, and his grandfather Vincenzo a conductor.

Luciano’s early fascination with music led him to make his debut at the young age of thirteen, performing in the operetta Salvatorello at the Mercantini Theater in his hometown of Ripatransone. Guided by his uncle Enrico, this debut laid the foundation for his future career. After graduating from high school in Ancona, Luciano moved to Milan in 1928 to study at the conservatory under maestros Sammarco and Gambardella. Originally a tenor, Luciano’s voice matured into the rare basso profondo by the age of twenty.

His promising musical studies were interrupted in 1930 due to military service, but he returned to the stage soon after, debuting at the Ventidio Basso Theater in Ascoli Piceno. His career took a major leap in 1933 when the celebrated baritone Riccardo Stracciari introduced him at the Teatro del Popolo in Milan. That same year, Neroni officially debuted at the Teatro Giuseppe Persiani in Recanati, performing in Il barbiere di Siviglia, La sonnambula, and Lucia di Lammermoor.

Luciano’s career ascended rapidly following his participation in the National Competition of Bel Canto at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, where he gained national attention. He continued to perform widely, including radio concerts and several high-profile appearances at renowned Italian theaters such as the Teatro Puccini in Milan and the Teatro Argentina in Rome, under the direction of the esteemed Pietro Mascagni.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Neroni became a leading basso, performing at major opera houses across Italy, reaching the peak of his career between 1943 and 1944. His personal life blossomed as well, marrying the noblewoman Bianca Boccabianca di Patay, the daughter of his first music teacher, Enrico, in 1945.

Luciano Neroni’s fame soon spread internationally. He was invited by Evita Perón to perform at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, solidifying his global reputation. Despite his growing international engagements, tragedy struck in 1950 when he showed signs of illness. In 1951, as he was poised to make his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Neroni’s health rapidly declined. He passed away on October 23, 1951, at the age of forty-two, leaving behind his wife, Bianca, and their newborn daughter, Brunilde, just as he was on the cusp of achieving lasting international acclaim.

TRACKLIST

1. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) La calunnia BB25144 2-70916 Cetra
2. Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky) Canzone di Varlaam BB25255 2-71183 Cetra
3. Dejanice (Catalani) O patria mia BB25247 2-71884 Cetra
4. Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Udite, udite o rustici BB25250 2-71193 Cetra
5. Flauto magico (Mozart) Possente numi BB 25254 2-71197 Cetra
6. Hugenots (Meyerbeer) Piff, paff, piff, paff BB25149 2-71182 Cetra
7. L’ubriaco (Mussorgski) Canzone Russa BB 25255 2-71203 Cetra
8. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Dalle stanze ove Lucia CC 2132, CC 2133, 2-70223, 2-70237 Cetra
9. Luisa Miller (Verdi) Il Mio Sangue, La vith darei DB5440 2BA 4852 HMV
10. Mefistofele (Boito) Ave Signor BB25247 2-71195 Cetra
11. Mosè in Egitto (Rossini) Invocazione; Eterno immenso BB25149 2- 71181 Cetra
12. Puritani (Bellini) Suoni la tromba (w. Manachini) CC 2150 2-70247 Cetra
13. Salvator Rosa (Gomes) Di sposo, di padre BB25079 2-70245 Cetra
14. Simon Bocchanegra (Verdi) Il lacerato spirito BB25079 2-70246 Cetra
15. Walkiria (Wagner) Addio, sublime prole d’eroi CB 20342, CC 20343, 2-70783, 2-70786 Cetra