Description

FRANCESCO MERLI (FRANCESCO COVA) (CORSICO, MILAN, ITALY, 28 JANUARY, 1887 – MILAN, ITALY, 11 DECEMBER, 1976)

 

 

 

 

He was born in Corsico (Milan) and studied in Milan, with Carlo Negrini and Adelaide Borghi. In 1914, he won second prize at a singing competition in Parma, being edged out of first place by the great Beniamino Gigli. He made his debut at La Scala, Milan, in 1916, as Alvaro in Spontini’s Fernand Cortez. Merli would sing widely in Italy and South America during the next decade, and also toured Australia in 1928 with an opera company composed of leading La Scala singers and sponsored by Dame Nellie Melba (who also sang during that tour, in roles such as Mimi in La bohème, despite being 67 years old). The tour included Merli singing Calaf in the Australian premiere of Puccini’s Turandot.  He appeared regularly in London at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from 1926 to 1930, where, among other things, he was the first Calaf to be heard in Great Britain. He made his Paris debut at the Palais Garnier in 1935, as Pollione in Norma. His only season at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City occurred in 1932. He made his debut at the Met on March 2 of that year, as Radames in Aida; but his performances there were not deemed a success due to the effects of poor health. Thereafter, La Scala became his operatic base and his career tailed off during World War II. He was renowned for his vocal strength, penetrating tone and incisive diction. These qualities enabled him to tackle a wide operatic repertory, ranging from bel canto works through verismo roles to heroic parts such as Verdi’s Otello. Other famous operas that he appeared in included, among others, William Tell, Il pirata, Il trovatore, La forza del destino, Andrea Chénier, Manon Lescaut and Pagliacci. His portrayal of Otello became world famous, as was his interpretation of Calaf in Turandot. Merli also created the title role in Respighi’s Belfagor in 1923. He retired from the stage in 1948 and died, aged 89, in Milan.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1919 Firenze Teatro Verdi Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1920 Palermo Teatro Massimo Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1921 Carrara Politeama Verdi Carmen (Don Jose)

1922 Brescia Teatro Grande Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1922 Fabriano Teatro Gentile Carmen (Don Jose)

1922 Piacenza Teatro Municipale Gioconda (Enzo)

1924 Verona Arena Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1925 Treviso Teatro Sociale Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1926 Roma Teatro Costanzi Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1926 Roma Teatro Costanzi Gioconda (Enzo)

1926 San Paolo Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1926 San Paulo Teatro Municipal Boheme (Rodolfo)

1926 Milano Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Rodolfo)

1926 Milano Teatro alla Scala Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1927 Milano Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Rodolfo)

1927 Milano Teatro alla Scala Gioconda (Enzo)

1928 Melbourne His Majesty’s Carmen (Don Jose)

1930 Milano Teatro La Scala Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1930 Milano Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Rodolfo)

1931 Milano Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Rodolfo)

1931 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Rodolfo)

1933 Padova Teatro Verdi Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1934 Roma Teatro dell’Opera Boheme (Rodolfo)

1937 Roma Eiar Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1937 Milano Teatro La Scala Fanciulla del West (Johnson)

1938 Trieste Castello di San Giusto Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1939 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme (Rodolfo)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Africana (Meyerbeer) O Paradiso D 14687 BX 91 Columbia, Milano 1927-02-03

Aida (Verdi)  La fatal pietra… Morir si pura e bella D 12535 B 1244 Columbia, Milano 1927-02

Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida D 18048 WBX 260 Columbia, Milano 1928-03-31

Aida (Verdi) Nel fiero anelito (w. Arangi-Lombardi) D 18019 WBX 86 Columbia, Milano 1927-01-28

Aida (Verdi) Nume costode e vindice (w. Pasero) D18024 WBX120 Columbia, Milano 1927-04-23

Aida (Verdi) O terra addio  (w. Arangi-Lombardi) D 18019 WBX 87 Columbia, Milano 1927-01-28

Andrea Chenier (Giordano)  Si, fui soldato D 14705 BX 236 Columbia, Milano 1928-02-07

Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Improvviso D 14705 BX 234 Columbia, Milano 1928-02-06

Andrea Chénier (Giordano) Vicino a te… La nostra morta (w. Scacciati) D18075, D14712, WBX477, WBX232 Columbia, Milano 1929-02-19

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Addio alla madre D 14685 WBX 88 Columbia, Milano 1927-01-28

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) No no Turiddu (w. Arangi-Lombardi) D18017 WBX 83 Columbia, Milano 1927-01-27

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Tu qui Santuzza (w. Arangi-Lombardi) D18017 WBX 82 Columbia, Milano 1927-01-27

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Viva il vino spumeggiante D 14685 WBX 85 Columbia, Milano 1927-01-27

Forza del destino (Verdi) Invano Alvaro (w. Vanelli) D 18063 BX 478 Columbia, Milano 1929-02-19

Forza del destino (Verdi) La vita è inferno… O tu che in seno D12534, D12534, WB1238 WB1211 Columbia, Milano 1927-02, 1927-0102

Forza del destino (Verdi) Le minaccie (w. Molinari) D12453 B503 Columbia, Milano 1925-09 (ac)

Forza del destino (Verdi) Le minaccie (w. Vanelli) D 18063 BX 479 Columbia, Milano 1929-02-19

Forza del destino (Verdi) Non imprecare umiliati (w. Scacciati & Pasero) GQX10213 WBX491 Columbia, Milano 1929-02-26