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

 

 

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Amore o grillo… Addio, fiorito asil 24003 Zonophone

Manon (Massenet) Ah dispar vision 578 Aérophone

Manon (Massenet) Ah! fuyez, douce image (It) 39350 XPh 386 Fonotipia, Milano

Manon (Massenet) Fanciulla, il vostro nome (w. Caprile) 39552 XPh1690 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-03-09

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Donna non vidi mai 39293 XPh 323 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-09-13

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Guardate pazzo son 39328 XPh 338 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-09-21

Mefistofele (Boito) Amore misterioso (w. Russ) 054025 Con636 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Mefistofele (Boito) Dai campi, dai prati 7003 Odeon, Milano 1905

Mefistofele (Boito) Giunto sul passo estremo 52756 Con205 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Mefistofele (Boito) Serenata (w. Russ & Longhi) 54046 Con228 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Mignon (Thomas) Ah non credevi tu 52750 Con168 G&T, Milano 1903-10

Mignon (Thomas) Ah! non credevi tu Odeon 37287 Odeon, Milano 19051906

sole mio (di Capua) 93199 Pathé, London 1913

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Sperai, tanto il delirio 37013 Xm36 Odeon, Milano 1905

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba 587 Aérophone