Description

AMEDEO BASSI (MONTESPERTOLI, 29 JULY, 1872 – FLORENCE, 14 JANUARY, 1949)

 

 

 

 

He trained in Florence and made his debut in Castelfiorentino in 1897, singing in Filippo Marchetti’s Ruy Blas. After traveling widely throughout Italy, he achieved great success in South America, where he performed regularly until 1912. In 1906, he joined the Manhattan Opera Company and made his Covent Garden debut the following year. He returned to Covent Garden in 1911 for the British premiere of La fanciulla del West, a role he also performed in the first productions of the opera in Rome and Chicago.

At Monte Carlo in 1905, he participated in the premiere of Pietro Mascagni’s Amica, and the following year in Naples, he took part in the premiere of Frederic d’Erlanger’s Tess. He also performed in the first American production of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s I gioielli della Madonna in 1912. During the 1920s, he began a second career at La Scala as an admired Wagnerian tenor. He later taught in Florence, where Ferruccio Tagliavini was among his pupils. Early recordings showcase his powerful voice, characterized by the typical verismo style of the time.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1898 Livorno Politeama Boheme (Rodolfo)

1898 Firenze Teatro Pagliano Boheme (Rodolfo)

1899 Bologna Teatro Del Corso Boheme (Rodolfo)

1899 Carrara Politeama Boheme (Rodolfo)

1902 Vienna Un der Wien Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1903 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)

1904 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)

1905 Parigi Teatro Sarah Bernardt Andrea Chenier (Andrea Chenier)

1906 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Amica (Giorgio)

1906 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Amica (Giorgio)

1907 Trapani  Teatro Garibaldi Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)

1907 New York  Manhattan Opera House Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1908 New York  Manhattan Opera House Andrea Chenier (Andrea Chenier)

1909 Roma Teatro Costanzi Andrea Chenier (Andrea Chenier)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Tra voi, belle brune 86396 Pathé, Milano 1912
2. Mefistofele (Boito) Giunto sul passo estremo 86392 Pathé, Milano 1912
3. Occhi di fata (Denza) 4232 Pathé, Paris 1904
4. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Arioso 86388 Pathé, Milano 1912
5. Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna è mobile 86386 Pathé, Milano 1912
6. Rigoletto (Verdi) Questa o quella 4233 Pathé, Paris 1904
7. Siberia (Giordano) Orride steppe 39643 XPh1804 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-20
8. Siberia (Giordano) T’incontrai per via 4230 Pathé, Paris 1904
9. Siberia (Giordano) T’incontrai per via 39644 XPh1805 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-20
10. Tess (d’Erlanger) Stanotte ho fatto un sogno… Il sogno è la coscienza 39651, 39652, XPh1798, XPh1799, Fonotipia, Milano 1906-04-20
11. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 86387 Pathé, Milano 1912
12. Tosca (Puccini) O dolci mani 4242 Pathé, Paris 1904
13. Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia 4241 Pathé, Paris 1904