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

 

 

Mefistofele (Boito) Fin da stanotte (w. Molinari) 54436 174ah Gramophone, Milano 1910-04-16

Mignon (Thomas) Addio Mignon 77 Phonodisc Mondial

Mignon (Thomas) Ah non credevi tu 2-52706 13092b Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-17

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) O Colombina 42377 Beka, Milano

Piccola (Tagliaferri) 00788 1910 Disco Italian Neapolitan Records

Rigoletto (Verdi) Caro nome (solo N Casini); Trovatore (Verdi) Di quella pira; Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza (solo A Casini) 059250 647aj Gramophone, Milano 1913-03-19

Rigoletto (Verdi) È il sol dell’anima (w. T. Albani) 42043 Beka, Milano 1908/1909

Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna è mobile 42118 Beka, Milano 1908/1909

Serafina (Valverde) 65900 Victor, 3 21 1913 Milan, Italy

Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia 2-52754 157ah Gramophone, Milano 1910-04-15

Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 21648 42073 Disco America

Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 45017 Victor, USA 4/15/1910

Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia 42080 Beka, Milano 1908/1909

Traviata (Verdi) Parigi, o cara (w. Billi) 86434 Pathé, Milano 1912/1913

Traviata (Verdi) Scena della borsa (w. Billi) 86433 Pathé, Milano 1912/1913

Zaza (Leoncavallo) E un riso gentil 2-52790 945ah Gramophone, Milano 1910-12-09