Description

INES MARIA FERRARIS (TURIN, 6 MAY, 1882 – MILAN, 11 DECEMBER, 1971)

 

 

 

 

She initially studied piano under Antonio Quartero in Turin and made her public debut as a pianist in 1894. She later expanded her career, becoming active as both an actress and a concert singer. Her operatic debut came in 1908 in Bologna, where she performed as Philine in A. Thomas’ Mignon. In 1911, she sang at La Scala for the first time, debuting as Carolina in Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto. That same year, she also appeared at La Scala in the Italian premiere of Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, singing the role of Sophie—a role she reprised in 1914 at the Rome Opera.

In 1913, she returned to La Scala as Colombina in E. Wolf-Ferrari’s Le donne curiose, a performance greatly admired by Arturo Toscanini. She later appeared at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, where she performed in the premieres of E. Wolf-Ferrari’s Il segreto di Susanna, Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, and Catalani’s La Wally. In 1916, she made a guest appearance at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo in La Traviata, and in 1920, she sang Gilda in Rigoletto at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, with subsequent performances there during the 1920-21 season and again in 1924.

Her career flourished at La Scala, where in 1925 she performed in Hänsel und Gretel and in 1927 appeared in Der Rosenkavalier alongside the Spanish mezzo-soprano Conchita Supervia, with whom she shared a close friendship. On March 27, 1917, she premiered Puccini’s La Rondine in Monte Carlo, singing the role of Lisetta. In 1924, she also premiered Chabrier’s new opera Une Éducation manquée there.

After retiring from the stage in 1934, she transitioned into teaching, first at the Conservatory of Venice, then at the Conservatory of Bologna, and finally at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. She later became a vocal pedagogue in Milan.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1906 Ascoli Piceno  Teatro Ventidio Basso Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1906 Trieste  Anfiteatro Minerva Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1906  Barcellona  Teatro Liceo Carmen (Micaela)

1906 Ascoli Piceno  Teatro Ventidio Basso Don Pasquale (Norina)

1907 Genova  Politeama Genovese Don Pasquale (Norina)

1908 Firenze  Teatro Verdi Don Pasquale (Norina)

1908 Lucera  Teatro Garibaldi Rigoletto (Gilda)

1909 Mogliano  Politeama Mafalda Don Pasquale (Norina)

1909 Pesaro  Teatro Rossini Don Pasquale (Norina)

1909 Bologna Teatro Verdi Mognon (Filina)

1910 Il Cairo Teatro Kedivhiale Loreley (Anna)

1912 Rovigo  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1912 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Musetta)

1912 Brescia  Teatro Sociale Don Pasquale (Norina)

1913 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Ballo in maschera (Oscar)

1913 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Loreley (Anna)

1914 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Ballo in maschera (Oscar)

1914 Bologna  Teatro Verdi Boheme (Musetta)

1915 Forlì  Teatro Comunale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1915 Milano  Teatro Dal Verme Ballo in maschera (Oscar)

1916 Udine  Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1919 Trieste  Politeama Rossetti Boheme (Musetta)

1924 Milano  Teatro La Scala Boheme (Musetta)

1925 Milano  Teatro La Scala Ballo in maschera (Oscar)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Fra Diavolo (Santini): Quell’uom dal fiero aspetto (w. Santini) C533 10725 Columbia, Milano 1908?
2. Ernani (Verdi): Vieni meco (w. De Padova & Preve) D16253 74704 Columbia, Milano 1908?
3. Ernani (Verdi): O sommo Carlo (w. Santini & De Padova) D16253 74705 Columbia, Milano 1908?
4. Rigoletto (Verdi): Lassù in cielo (w. De Padova) 10739 D428 Columbia, Milano 1908?
5. Rigoletto (Verdi): Sì, vendetta (w. De Padova) 10733 C522 Columbia, Milano 1908?
6. Ballo in maschera (Verdi): La rivedro (w. Pertile, Bertana, Righetti, Baromeo & chorus) 74973 xxPh 5680 Fonotipia, Milano 1926-04-02
7. Ballo in maschera (Verdi): E scherzo (w. Pertile, Bertana, Righetti, Baromeo & chorus) 74974 xxPh 5666 Fonotipia, Milano 1926-04-02
8. Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck): Dance duet, pt 1, pt 2 (w. Supervia) 120166 xxPh6328 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-06-20
9. Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck): Dance duet pt 2 (w. Supervia) 120166 xxPh6329 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-06-20
10. Rondine (Puccini): Chi il bel sogno di Doretta B15002 Mo3411 Odeon, Milano
11. Mai Pu, Mai Pu (G Pascoli/G Farina) 100-2432 HMV, Milano
12. 13. Rosenkavalier (Strauss); Final duet, pt 1 and pt 2 (w. Supervia) 120170 120170 xxPh6326 xxPh6327 Fonotipia, Milano 1928-06-20
13. 15. Rosenkavalier (Strauss); Presentazione della rosa, pt 1 and 2 (w. Supervia) 120169 120169 xxPh6324 xxPh6325
14. I granatieri (Valente); Quartetto (w. Bravura, Artuffo & Livi) Parlophon G.P. 91592 150732
15. La mascotte (Audran); Duetto (w. Livi) Parlophon G.P. 91592 150728