Description

EMMA CARELLI (NAPLES, 12 MAY, 1877 – NEAR ROME, 17 AUGUST, 1928)

 

 

 

 

She was an Italian operatic soprano particularly associated with the dramatic soprano roles of the verismo repertoire and the works of Richard Wagner. After a singing career that lasted almost two decades, she managed the Teatro Costanzi in Rome for nearly fifteen years. After studying with her father, Beniamino Carelli, at the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella, she made her professional debut in 1895 in the title role of Mercadante’s La vestale during the centenary celebrations at Altamura and went on to perform in opera houses across many Italian cities.

In 1898, she married Walter Mocchi, a left-wing politician, self-made millionaire, and later impresario. She sang in several world premieres, including Pietro Floridia’s La Colonia libera (1899), Meryem in Cesare Galeotti’s Anton (1900), and Rosaura in Mascagni’s Le maschere at La Scala in 1901. For several years, she also sang in South America, primarily Argentina, as part of a touring troupe organized by her husband. In 1903, she performed the title role in Edoardo Mascheroni’s opera Lorenza for its South American premiere in Buenos Aires.

She became particularly associated with the title role in Leoncavallo’s Zazà and sang in several operas by Richard Wagner, including the roles of Kundry in Parsifal and Elisabeth in Tannhäuser. Her repertoire also included the title roles in Puccini’s Tosca and Giordano’s Fedora, Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, and Margherita in Boito’s Mefistofele, among other roles.

In 1910, Carelli’s husband purchased the Teatro Costanzi, and his company, Impresa Costanzi, produced the world premiere of Leoncavallo’s Maia during its first season. Carelli took over the management from her husband in 1912, while he focused on running the South American touring troupe and the Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. During her 14-year management of the theatre, several operas received their first performances in Rome, including Richard Strauss’s Elektra (in which she sang the title role), La fanciulla del West, Turandot, and Il trittico by Giacomo Puccini, Parsifal by Richard Wagner, Francesca da Rimini by Riccardo Zandonai, Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky, and Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint-Saëns. Apart from Elektra, her only other performance as a singer during that time was in the title role of Mascagni’s Iris.

In 1926, Carelli and Walter Mocchi sold the Teatro Costanzi to the Rome City Council and withdrew from most of their other business interests in South America. Carelli died two years later in a car accident. A few years after her death, Mocchi married Bidu Sayão, whose career Carelli had fostered.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Io sono l’umile ancella 39734 XPh 1978 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-07-05

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Poveri fiori 39735 XPh 1979 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-07-05

Dopo (Tosti) 39731 XPh1977 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-07-05

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Suicidio! 39730 XPh1973 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-07-04

Manon (Massenet) Ancor son io tutt’attonita 39650 XPh 1820 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-23

Siberia (Giordano) Nel suo amore 39647 XPh 1808 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-20

Siberia (Giordano) Non odi là il martir 39648 XPh 1807 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-20

Tosca (Puccini) Vissi d’arte 39649 XPh 1822 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-23

Zazà (Leoncavallo) Mamma usciva di casa Unpubl. XPh 1970 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-07-04