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 most important 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 (the wife of the famous tenor Emilio Perea), which became one of his most famous 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 almost all significant Italian opera stages and also made guest appearances in London, Paris, Buenos Aires, Madrid, St. Petersburg, and Warsaw. According to Titta Ruffo’s book, he had the honor to sing with Elvino Ventura and soprano Pandolfini in La Traviata. He was one of the most prolific recording opera singers of his time, with a large number of records made 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

 

 

1. Mefistofele (Boito) Dai campi, dai prati 7003 Odeon, Milano 1905
2. Mefistofele (Boito) Giunto sul passo estremo 52756 Con205 G&T, Milano 1903-10
3. Mefistofele (Boito) Serenata (w. Russ & Longhi) 54046 Con228 G&T, Milano 1903-10
4. Mignon (Thomas) Ah non credevi tu 52750 Con168 G&T, Milano 1903-10
5. Mignon (Thomas) Ah! non credevi tu Odeon 37287 Odeon, Milano 19051906
6. O sole mio (di Capua) 93199 Pathé, London 1913
7. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Sperai, tanto il delirio 37013 Xm36 Odeon, Milano 1905
8. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba 587 Aérophone
9. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba 37025 Xm38 Odeon, Milano 1905
10. Pecheurs de perles (Bizet) Del tempio al limitar (w. Baldassare) 054012 Con548 G&T, Milano 1903-10
11. Rigoletto (Verdi) E’il sol dell’anima (w. Finzi-Magrini) 39681 XPh 1902 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-05-25
12. Tosca (Puccini) Duetto, act 1 (w. de Michalska) 54042 Con106R G&T, Milano 1903-10
13. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 35175 A.P.G.A. Paris, 1908/1909
14. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 93192 Pathé, London 1913
15. Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia 35174 A.P.G.A. Paris, 190809
16. Traviata (Verdi)  Prendi, quest’e l’imma (with Russ & Corradetti) 39380 XPh 476 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-11-18
17. Traviata (Verdi) Lunge da lei…De miei bollenti spiriti BA 28138 Edison
18. Traviata (Verdi) Parigi, o cara (w. Finzi-Magrini) 39682 XPh 1911 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-09-22
19. Traviata (Verdi) Un dì felice (w. Russ) 054030 Con630 G&T, Milano 1903-10
20. Traviata (Verdi) Un dì, felice, eterea (w. Labia) 39332 xPh 343 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-09-1
21. Trovatore (Verdi) Di quella pira 2245 Idéal
22. Trovatore (Verdi) Di quella pira 35190 A.P.G.A. Paris, 1908/1909