Description

FRANCO DE FREGORIO (PALERMO, 1875 – ?)

 

 

 

 

He began his career in Italian provincial theaters, where he sang during the first decade of the 20th century. In 1908, he appeared at the Teatro Nazionale in Rome as Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. The following year, he performed at the Teatro Rossi in Pisa as Fra Diavolo in Auber’s opera of the same name. In 1911, De Gregorio guested during a season with the Italian opera in Holland. From 1915 to 1920, he toured North America with smaller opera troupes. In 1919, he sang with the San Carlo Opera Company in New York as Turiddu in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, while soprano Rose Ponselle appeared as Santuzza. After finishing his performing career, De Gregorio likely taught in the USA.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1897 Aja Het Gebow Lucia di Lammermoor (Edgardo)

1900 Garlasco Teatro Martinetti Faust (Faust)

1903 Odessa Teatro Municipale Rigoletto (Duca)

1905 Aja Het Gebow Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)

1906 Salerno Teatro Verdi Rigoletto (Duca)

1908 Firenze Politeama Nazionale Manon (De Grieux)

1910 Arezzo Teatro Petrarca Manon (De Grieux)

1912 Melbourne Her Majestic’s Rigoletto (Duca)

1917 Bogotа Teatro Olimpia Stagione

1919 Quebec Auditorium Faust (Faust)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Cielo e mar 42046 Beka

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Cielo e mar 2-52744 166ah Gramophone, Milano 1910-04-15

Gioconda (Ponchielli) Già ti veggo (w. Badini & Lotti) 55019 Victor, USA 12/17/1910

La Rosa di Granada (Valverde) Serafina 252087 2700ah Gramophone, Milano 1913-03-21

Lohengrin (Wagner) Da voi lontan 052301 228aj Gramophone, Milano 1910-11-28

Lohengrin (Wagner) Mercè, cigno gentil 86438 Pathé, Milano 1912

Lohengrin (Wagner) Racconto del Graal 86437 Pathé, Milano 1912

Lolita (Buzzi-Peccia) 42385 Beka, Milano

Lombardi (Verdi) La mia letizia 42167 Beka, Milano 1908/1909

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Maledizione (w. Maggi, Bettoni & Pereira) 68454 Victor, 3/8/1913

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Sulla tomba 42371 Beka, Milano

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Tu che a Dio 42370 Beka

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Io t’ho ghermita (w. Boccolini) 054304 229aj Gramophone, Milano 1910-11-30

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Ah Manon 2-52758 169ah Gramophone, Milano 1910-04-16

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Donna non vidi mai 42136 Phonotype, Milano

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Tra voi belle Victor 45015, USA 4/16/1910