Description

IRENE MINGHINI-CATTANEO (LUGO DI ROMAGNA, RAVENNA, 12 APRIL, 1892 – RIMINI, 24 MARCH, 1944)

 

 

 

 

She first studied under Maestro Cicognani and later with Ettore Cattaneo, the director of the music publishing house Ricordi in Milan, whom she married in 1920. She made her debut in 1918 at the Teatro Carcano in Milan as Madelon in Andrea Chénier. She then made guest appearances in Milan (Teatro Dal Verme), Turin (Teatro Regio), Rome (Teatro Costanzi), and Zurich, performing in Rigoletto, Un ballo in maschera, and La Gioconda, as well as in Nice. During the 1925-1927 seasons and again in 1931, she performed at the Arena di Verona. From 1928 to 1941, she sang with great success at Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

In the 1928-1930 seasons, she made several guest appearances at Covent Garden in London, performing as Amneris in Aida (together with Dusolina Giannini and Aureliano Pertile), as a partner of Feodor Chaliapin in Boris Godunov, and with Rosa Ponselle in La Gioconda by A. Ponchielli. In 1931, she also appeared as a guest in Zurich, and in 1935, she performed at the Grand Opéra in Paris. At Teatro alla Scala, she sang in the premiere of Ildebrando Pizzetti’s opera Fra Gherardo on May 16, 1929.

Her guest performances extended to the renowned opera houses of Germany, Austria, Greece, and Egypt. From 1935, she also began adding dramatic soprano roles to her extensive stage repertoire. She retired from the stage in 1941. Until 1920, she performed under the name Irene Minghini-Boschi, which was her real name.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1918 Milano Teatro Carcano

1925-1927 Verona Arena

1928-1941 Milan oTeatro Alla Scala

1928-1930 London Covent Garden

1931 Verona Arena

1931 Zurich Opera House

1935 Paris Grand Opéra

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Aida (Verdi) Concertato act 2, pt 1 and pt 2 (w. Baracchi, Poli-Randaccio, Montelauri, Fregosi & Righetti) 120181 XXPh6387, 120181 XXPh6412 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-21
2. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Re dell’abisso D4995 Columbia, Milano 1923
3. Carmen (Bizet) Avanera DB1303 (2-053365) HMV, London 1929-06-22
4. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Voi lo sapete, o mamma 120180, 6637N Fonotipia, Milano 1927-05-23
5. Favorita (Donizetti) O mio Fernando DB1441 (32-1489) HMV, Milano 1930-04-28
6. Favorita (Donizetti) Pietoso al par d’un nome (w. Cecil) DB1441 (32-1440) HMV, Milano 1930-04-02
7. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Figlia che reggi (w. Granforte & de Martis) DB1448 (32-1537) HMV, Milano 1930-04-08
8. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Laggiù nelle nebbie (w. Cecil) DB1432 (32-1437) HMV, Milano 1930-03-25
9. Gioconda (Ponchielli) L’amo come il fulgor del Creato (w. de Martis) DB1432 (32-1436) HMV, Milano 1930-03-25
10. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Voce di donna (w. Masini, Basi, Lucini & chorus) DB1448 (32-1541) HMV, Milano 1930-04-29
11. Mignon (Thomas) Non conosci D5004 70789 Columbia, Milano 1923
12. Norma (Bellini) Sgombra è la sacra selvo DB1749 (32-1217) HMV, Milano 1929-10-31
13. Requiem (Verdi) Dies Irae, pt 3 – Liber Scriptus (w. chorus) D1753 (32-807) HMV, Milano 1929-09-06
14. Rigoletto (Verdi) Bella figlia dell’amore (w. Bardone, Pertile & Fregosi) 120047 XXPh 5970 Fonotipia, Milano 1927-05-25
15. Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere (w. Pertile) 120047 XXPh5967 Fonotipia, Milano 1927-05-24
16. Trovatore (Verdi) Condotta ell’era in ceppi (w. Pertile) D1956 CF3631 HMV, Milano 1930-11-18
17. Trovatore (Verdi) Mal reggendo (w. Pertile) 120057 XXPh5960 Fonotipia, Milano 1927-05-23
18. Trovatore (Verdi) O giusto cielo…Perigliati ancor (w. Pertile) 120057 XXPh5959 Fonotipia, Milano 1927-05-23
19. Trovatore (Verdi) Stride la vampa, pt 2 (w. Pertile & Gelli) D1956 CF3633 HMV, Milano 1930-11-19