Description

CESIRA FERRANI (TURIN, 8 MAY, 1863 – POLLONE, 4 MAY, 1943)

 

 

 

 

Born Cesira Zanazzio, Ferrani studied with Antonietta Fricci in Turin before making her professional opera début in 1887 as Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen at the Teatro Regio di Torino. That same year she sang Gilda from Verdi’s Rigoletto and Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust at the same theater. Over the next four years she appeared in numerous productions in Catania, Genoa, and Venice. She also sang in several productions in France. In 1892 she appeared at the Teatro Carlo Felice as Amelia into Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra and as the title role in Alfredo Catalani’s Loreley under Arturo Toscanini.

On 1 February 1893, Ferrani sang the title role in the world premiere of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut at the Teatro Regio di Torino. It was the first time of many that she would sing opposite Giuseppe Cremonini, who originated the role of Chevalier des Grieux. In 1894 Ferrani and Cremonini reprised their roles in Manon Lescaut’s La Scala premiere and sang opposite each other in the world premiere of Alberto Franchetti’s Il fior d’Alpe as Maria and Paolo. Ferrani later reprised the role of Manon in productions at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and cities throughout Italy.

In 1895 Ferrani sang the role of Suzel in L’amico Fritz at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and created the title role in the world premiere of Giacomo Orefice’s Consuelo at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. The following year she portrayed the role of Mimì in the original production of Puccini’s La bohème in Turin (1896).

The day after the successful premiere of La bohème, with the cast receiving 15 curtain calls, Puccini gave Ferrani his photograph with the dedication:

“To my true and splendid Mimì, signorina Cesira Ferrani, with gratitude, G. Puccini”

Following the success of La bohème, Ferrani embarked on performance tours of Russia and Spain, and appeared in productions in Cairo and Lisbon in addition to continuing to perform throughout Italy. In 1901 Ferrani sang in the world premiere of Mascagni’s Le maschere at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa.

At La Scala she sang Mélisande in the first Milan performance of Pelléas et Mélisande with Toscanini in 1908. Her other roles included Juliette from Roméo et Juliette, Fanny in Sapho, Charlotte from Werther, Amelia from Simon Boccanegra, Elisabeth in Tannhäuser, and both Elsa in Lohengrin and Eva in Die Meistersinger among others. Her final appearance was in 1909 as Mélisande.

In 1928 when the first recording of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly was made, the Gramophone Company invited her out of retirement to sing Kate Pinkerton’s handful of lines in Act 3.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1889 Ferrara  Teatro Comunale Lohengrin (Elsa)

1891 Trento  Teatro Sociale Lohengrin (Elsa)

1891 Brescia  Teatro Grande Lohengrin (Elsa)

1892 Catania  Teatro Bellini Ernani (Elvira)

1892 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Loreley (Loreley) World  Premiere

1893 San Paulo  Teatro San Josè Lohengrin (Elsa)

1893 Torino  Teatro Regio Manon Lescaut (Manon) World  Premiere

1896 Torino  Teatro Regio Boheme (Mimi) World  Premiere

1896 Trento  Teatro Sociale  Boheme (Mimi)

1896 Brescia  Teatro Grande  Boheme (Mimi)

1896 Varese  Teatro Sociale Boheme (Mimi)

1896 Genova  Politeama Genovese  Boheme (Mimi)

1897 Buenos Ayres  Teatro dell’Opera Boheme (Mimi)

1897 Montevideo  Teatro Solis Boheme (Mimi)

1897 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Lohengrin (Elsa)

1898 Torino  Teatro Regio Boheme (Mimi)

1898  Asti  Teatro Alfieri Boheme (Mimi)

1898 Genova  Politeama Genovese Boheme (Mimi)

1898  Il Cairo  Teatro Khediviale Boheme (Mimi)

1899 Alessandria d’Egitto  Teatro Zizinia Boheme (Mimi)

1899 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Boheme (Mimi)

1900 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Lohengrin (Elsa)

1902 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Boheme (Mimi)

1902 Barcellona  Teatro Liceo Boheme (Mimi)

1903 Oporto  Teatro S.Joao Boheme (Mimi)

1903 Firenze  Teatro della Pergola Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1903 Bologna  Teatro Comunale  Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1905 Oporto  Teatro S.Joao Boheme (Mimi)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

In 1902 she made 13 records for G&T, Milan

1. Bohème (Puccini) Addio senza rancor 53282 2915b G&T, Milano 1902-12
2. Boheme (Puccini) Mi chiamano Mimi 53281 2914b G&T, Milano 1902-12
3. Desiderio (Zardo) 53148 5511a G&T, Milano 1902-12
4. Faust (Gounod) Tardi si fà (w. Apostolu) 54035 2931b G&T, Milano 1902-12
5. Hérodiade (Massenet) Aria di Salomé 53149 5515a G&T, Milano 1902-12
6. Lohengrin (Wagner) Sogno di Elsa 53150 5520a G&T, Milano 1902-12
7. Lohengrin (Wagner) Duetto (w. Ceresoli) 54033 2930b G&T, Milano 1902-12
8. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) In quelle trine morbide 53283 2916b G&T, Milano 1902-12
9. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) L’ora o Tirsi 53147 5510a G&T, Milano 1902-12
10. Mefistofele (Boito) L’altra notte 53285 2927b G&T, Milano 1902-12
11. Se tu m’ami (Pergolesi) 53286 2928b G&T, Milano 1902-12