Description

ELVINO MICHELE VENTURA (PALERMO, 1873 – MILAN, 1931)

 

 

 

 

He studied with Martin in Milan and made his debut in 1894 at the Teatro Epicarmo in Noto. He soon became widely recognized as one of the leading tenors in Italy. In 1896, he appeared at the Teatro Regio in Turin as Marziale in Buzzi-Peccia’s Forza dell’amore. In 1900, he sang the role of Alfredo in La Traviata at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa.

The following year, Ventura appeared at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo as Osaka in Mascagni’s Iris, alongside Fausta Labia, wife of the famous tenor Emilio Perea; this became one of his most celebrated roles. In 1901, he created the role of Florindo in the premiere of Mascagni’s Le Maschere at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice.

In 1909, with the Castellano Opera Company, he performed in Holland and Belgium. Ventura appeared on nearly all the major Italian opera stages and also made guest appearances in London, Paris, Buenos Aires, Madrid, St. Petersburg, and Warsaw. According to Titta Ruffo’s book, Ruffo had the honor of singing La Traviata with Elvino Ventura and the soprano Pandolfini.

He was one of the most prolific recording opera singers of his time, making a large number of recordings for Odeon, Fonotipia, Zonophone, APGA, Pathé, and Edison.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1895 Catania Teatro Nazionale Rigoletto (Duca)

1897 Lecce Politeama Principe di Napoli Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1899 Montevideo Teatro Solis Boheme (Rodolfo)

1901 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Le Maschere (Florindo)

1903 Pietroburgo Nuovo Conservatorio Rigoletto (Duca)

1905 Messina Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)

1907 Costantinopoli Teatro Petit Champs Boheme (Rodolfo)

1909 Gand Petit Theatre Gioconda (Enzo)

1911 Catania Teatro Bellini Thais (Nicia)

1913 Pavia Teatro Fraschini Rigoletto (Duca)

1915 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Linda di Chamonix (Carlo)

1917 Alessandria d’Egitto Kursaal Pagliacci (Canio)

1920 Lugano Teatro Apollo Traviata (Alfredo)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Viva il vino (Brindisi) 52725 Con157R G&T, Milano 1903-10

Ernani (Verdi) Mercè diletti amichi 1364 Aérophone

Ernani (Verdi) Mercè diletti amichi 52784 Con305 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Ernani (Verdi) O tu che l’alma adorata 52832 Con306 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Ernani (Verdi) Solingo, errante, misero 1363 Aérophone

Faust (Gounod) Che fate qui Signor (w. Quercia & Sorgi) 054009 Con501 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Favorita (Donizetti) E fia vero (w. Luppi) 37002 Xm57 Odeon, Milano 1905

Favorita (Donizetti) Spirito gentil 052003 Con557 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Favorita (Donizetti) Spirto gentil 37064 Xm56 Odeon, Milano 1905

Favorita (Donizetti) Vieni, ah vieni (w. Longhi) 54044 Con139 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Fedora (Giordano) Amor ti vieta 52727 Con143 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Fedora (Giordano) La morte di Fedora (w. Carelli) 054034 Con 651 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Fedora (Giordano) Vedi io piango 7011 M53 Odeon, Milano 1905

Fra Diavolo (Auber) Del Capitan alla salute! (w. Corradetti & Luppi) 37017 Xm65 Odeon, Milano 1905

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Enzo Grimaldo (w. Quercia) 054004 Con526R G&T, Milano 1903-10