Description

MARIA SANTOLIVA VILLANI (1875 – 1948)

 

 

 

 

After finishing her education, she achieved her first successes in guest performances at the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo, the Teatro Mercadante in Naples, the Teatro della Pergola in Florence, and the Teatro Coccia in Novara. In Livorno, she appeared in A. Ponchielli’s La Gioconda. In 1905, she made guest appearances at the Opera House of Odessa in Il Trovatore and Les Huguenots. In 1908, she performed at the Politeama Rossini in Tunis, and in Spain she appeared at the Teatro Principal in Valencia. In 1909, she sang at the Teatro Bellini in Naples; in 1910, with an Italian opera troupe that also included the famous baritone Mattia Battistini, she appeared in Bucharest. She was married to the bass-baritone Roberto Villani, a member of the well-known Villani family of singers. Their daughter, Renata Villani, became a noted soprano. She retired from the stage in 1924.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1903 Palermo Teatro Politeama Garibaldi Ruy Blas (Maria)

1903 Novara Teatro Coccia Germania (Ricke)

1905 Naples Teatro Mercadante Lucrezia Borgia (Lucrezia)

1905 Odessa Opera House Trovatore (Leonora)

1905 Valencia Teatro Principal Tosca (Tosca)

1906 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Tosca (Tosca)

1906 Livorno Politeama  Gioconda (Gioconda)

1907 Naples Teatro Bellini Fedora (Fedora)

1908 Tunis Polietama Rossini Tosca (Tosca)

1910 Bucharest Teatro Lirico Trovatore (Leonora)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Maria Santoliva Villani made 6 records

Tosca (Puccini): Vittoria! Vittoria! (w. Cunego & Badini) 054379 02330v Gramophone, Milano 1912-03-04

Tosca (Puccini): Già mi dicon venal (w. Badini) 054380 02331v Gramophone, Milano 1912-03-04

Bohème (Puccini): Mi chiamano Mimì D9273 11327 Columbia, Milano