Description

GIOVANNI ZENATELLO (VERONA, 22 FEBRUARY, 1876 – NEW YORK CITY, 11 FEBRUARY, 1949)

 

 

 

 

Giovanni Zenatello (1876-1949) was an Italian tenor, renowned for his heroic roles, particularly as Otello. He began his career as a baritone, debuting in 1898 at the Belluno opera house as Silvio in Pagliacci. However, he switched to tenor in 1899, debuting in Naples as Canio in the same opera. His powerful voice and dramatic intensity quickly established him as a leading tenor.

Zenatello’s career took off in 1902 when he started appearing at La Scala. He performed in notable premieres, including the roles of Vassili in Giordano’s Siberia (1903), as well as parts in Smareglia’s Oceana (1903), Franchetti’s La figlia di Jorio (1906), and Cilea’s Gloria (1907). Zenatello also created the role of Pinkerton in the disastrous world premiere of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at La Scala in 1904. However, later that year, he redeemed the role at Teatro Regio in Parma, which turned out to be a success.

In 1906, Zenatello tackled the role of Hermann in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades at La Scala, and possibly around that time, he debuted as Otello in Verdi’s Otello, which would become his signature role. Following Francesco Tamagno, Zenatello became one of the most celebrated interpreters of Otello worldwide, alongside Leo Slezak.

He enjoyed a prominent international career, performing in Paris, London, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, Madrid, Barcelona, and across South America. He also performed in the United States, singing at the Manhattan Opera House (1907-1909), Boston Opera (1909-1917), and Chicago Opera (1911-1913). During a 1909 guest tour of the Metropolitan Opera, he replaced an ill Enrico Caruso as Radames in Aida.

Zenatello’s influence extended beyond his performances. In 1913, he played a key role in the restoration of the ancient Verona Arena, transforming it into a renowned venue for open-air opera performances, a tradition that continues today.

In his later years, Zenatello opened a singing studio in New York with his wife, mezzo-soprano Maria Gay, whom he married in 1913. Their studio trained numerous prominent singers, including Lily Pons and Nino Martini. He is also credited with facilitating Maria Callas’s breakthrough at the Verona Arena in 1947, leading to her international stardom. Zenatello retired from the stage in 1934, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of opera. His daughter, Nina Zenatello-Consolaro, documented his life in the book Giovanni Zenatello, tenore, ideatore degli spettacoli lirici dell’ arena Verona (Verona, 1976).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1899 Catania  Politeama Pacini Carmen (Don Jose)

1899 Catania  Politeama Pacini Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1900 Cosenza  Teatro Garibaldi Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)

1900 Corato  Teatro Comunale Boheme (Rodolfo)

1901 La Valletta/Malta  Teatro Reale Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1901 Trieste  Politeama Rossetti Carmen (Don Jose)

1902 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

1902 Milano  Teatro alla Scala Dannazione di Faust (Faust)

1902 Rio de Janeiro  Teatro Lirico Tosca (Tosca)

1903 Milano  Teatro La Scala Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)

1904 Rio de Janeiro  Teatro Lirico Carmen (Don Jose)

1905 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)

1905 Roma Teatro Costanzi Boheme (Rodolfo)

1908 Londra  Covent Garden Boheme (Rodolfo)

1908 New York  Teatro Metropolitan Boheme (Rodolfo)

1909 Londra  Covent Garden Boheme (Rodolfo)

1912 Boston Opera House Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)

1913 Boston Opera House Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida 36372 A5400 Columbia, New York 1912-04-15
2. Aida (Verdi) Già i sacerdoti adunansi (w. Gay) 30920A5406 Columbia, New York 1911-11-29
3. Aida (Verdi) Misero appien mi festi (w. Gay) 30896 A5406 Columbia, New York 1911-11-20
4. Aida (Verdi) Nume custode e vindice (w. Mardones) & chorus H1065 Columbia, New York 1912-04-12
5. Aida (Verdi) O terra addio (w. Destinn) 36360 A5399 Columbia, New York 1912-04-09
6. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) O Lola (Siciliana) A1235 19851 Columbia, New York 1912-04-12
7. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Tu qui, Santuzza (w. Gay) 30921 A5426 Columbia, New York 1911-11-20
8. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Viva il vino (Brindisi) A1142 19693 Columbia, New York 1911-12-18
9. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Cielo e mar 30922 A5400 Columbia, New York 1911-12-20
10. Otello (Verdi) Niun mi tema 30891 A5359 Columbia, New York 1911-11-17
11. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba A1235 19856 Columbia, New York 1912-04-17
12. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 30890 A5359 Columbia, New York 1911-11-17
13. Trovatore (Verdi) Ai nostri monti (w. Gay) 30892 A5370 Columbia, New York 1911-11-17
14. Trovatore (Verdi) Di quella pira A1142 19694 Columbia, New York 1911-12-18
15. Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere (w. Destinn & chorus) 36361 A5399 Columbia, New York 1912-04-09
16. Trovatore (Verdi) Son io che parlo a te!… Perigliarti ancor languente (w. Gay) A5370 30895 Columbia, New York 1911-11-20