Description

AUGUSTA OLTRABELLA (B SAVONA, DEC 27, 1897; D MILAN, JUNE 4, 1981)

 

 

 

 

She began her studies with Alberto Bavagnoli and Alberto Caffo in Milan and made her debut in 1916 at the Teatro Municipale of Mantua as Leonora in Il Trovatore. Her performance in the early 1920s, particularly at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan (1923), established her as a rising star.

One of her key moments came in 1926 when she took on the role of Liu in the premieres of Puccini’s Turandot at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. This set the stage for further success. From 1929 to 1931, she graced the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, debuting as Musetta in La Bohème.

Her career reached new heights when she joined the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1931. At La Scala, she had a string of successes, including major roles in several world premieres: Arrigo Pedrollo’s Primavera Fiorentina (1932), Lodovico Rocca’s Il Dibuk (1934) and La Morte di Frine (1937), Licinio Refice’s Margherita di Cortona (1938), and Renzo Bianchi’s Proserpina (1938). Her performances as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly (1935), Marie in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride (1935), and in Puccini’s Suor Angelica (1936, 1944) were widely acclaimed.

Her international career included a guest appearance at London’s Covent Garden in 1936, and she also performed at the Salzburg Festival under Arturo Toscanini from 1936 to 1938 in Falstaff (as Nannetta and Alice Ford). In 1937, she participated in the world premiere of Mario Peragallo’s Ginevra degli Almieri at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.

After World War II, her portrayal of Salome in Strauss’ Salome was highly praised. After her lengthy and successful career, she transitioned to teaching singing in Milan, passing on her experience to the next generation of artists.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. 1820 Romanza (Bixio – Avitabile – Cherubini) HN705 OBA189 HMV, Milano
2. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Io son l’umile ancella DA1479 0BA 1198 HMV, Milano 1936-03-20
3. Andrea Chénier (Giordano) Ora soave (w. de Muro) DA495 BE978 HMV, Milano 1923-02-12
4. Andrea Chénier (Giordano) Vicino a te… Vedi La luce inserta (w. de Muro) DA495 BE979, CE980
5. Fedora (Giordano) Mia madre la mia vecchia madre (w. Pauli) HMV DA1340
6. Fedora (Giordano) Vedi, io piango DB2859 2BA 1341 HMV, Milano 1936-05-01
7. Il Dibuk (Rocca) Ecotti, mia bella amica with Gino Del Signore 2BA1204 HMV, Milano 1936
8. Il Dibuk (Rocca) Ma ora torno verso l’anima tua with Gino Del Signore 2BA1205 HMV, Milano 1936
9. Iris (Mascagni) Un dì ero piccina S10467 (32-3981) HMV, Milano 1933-05
10. La Bohème (Puccini) Donde lieta usci DA1479 0BA 1199 HMV, Milano 1936-03-20
11. La Traviata (Verdi) Addio del passato DA5351 0BA 2436 HMV, Milano 1938-04-04
12. Mefistofele (Boito) Spunta l’aurora DA5351 0BA 2437 HMV, Milano 1938-04-04
13. Mese Mariano (Giordano) Racconto di Carmela, pt 1 and pt 2 (w. Monticone & Tegani) DB5382, DB5382, 2BA4071, 2BA4072
14. Suor Angelica (Puccini) Senza mamma DB5350 2BA 1200 HMV, Milano 1936-03-20