Description

GIUSEPPE TACCANI (MILAN, 1885 – MILAN, 1959)

 

 

 

 

He studied in Milan with the great baritone Lelio Casini and made his debut in 1904 at the Teatro Sociale of Lecco in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. In 1905, he appeared at the Politeama Azeglio in Bologna as Milio in Leoncavallo’s Zazà. He then made guest appearances in Havana and had a successful career throughout Italy. In 1908, he performed at the Teatro Regio in Turin and at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.

In 1906, he appeared in Genoa in the premiere of Attilio Parelli’s opera Hermes. In 1908, he performed at the Politeama Argentino in Buenos Aires, and in 1910 at the Teatro Khedivial in Cairo. During the 1908-1909 season, he was part of the ensemble at the Manhattan Opera House in New York. In 1911, he made a guest appearance at the Teatro Regio in Parma as Enzo in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda.

In 1913, he performed at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in the premieres of Domenico Monleone’s opera L’Arabesca and Alberto Gasco’s La Leggenda delle sette Torri. In 1923, he appeared at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples in the premiere of Mario Persico’s opera Morenita.

In 1930, he made a guest appearance in Holland, and in 1929 he performed at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples in the premiere of Felice Lattuada’s opera Don Giovanni. Despite his great success on major stages in Italy, he never sang at La Scala in Milan until 1931, when he alternated with Francesco Merli in the role of Radames in Verdi’s Aida.

In the later part of his career, he expanded his repertoire to include Wagner, performing roles such as Tannhäuser and Siegfried. In 1925, he appeared at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples as Tannhäuser, and in 1933 he sang Siegfried at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. He had a long career that concluded in 1949 with a performance of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana at the Teatro Sociale in Savigliano. After retiring, he opened a singing school.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1911 Teatro Regio Parma La Gioconda with Ernestina Poli-Randaccio (Gioconda), Ida Zizolfi (cieca), Ninì Frascani (Laura) and José Segura Tallien (Barnaba).

1912 Teatro Costanzi  Roma La Wally with Ersilde Cervi-Caroli (Wally), Enrichetta Graziani (Walter), Gabriella Besanzoni (Afra), Renzo Minolfi (Vincenzo Gellner), Giulio Cirino (Stromminger) and Giorgio Schottler (pedone di Schnals).

1913 Teatro Donizetti Bergamo Isabeau with Gilda Dalla Rizza (Isabeau), Maria Leonardi (Ermyntrude), Clotilde Amadei (Ermyngarde), Giulia Martinengo (Giglietta), Giuseppe Montanelli (re Raimondo) and Luigi Baldassarre (Faidit/araldo).

1914 Teatro Regio Parma Manon Lescaut with Claudia Muzio (Manon), Luigi Rossi-Morelli (Lescaut) and Silvio Queirolo (Geronte).

1915 Teatro Donizetti Bergamo La Gioconda with Maria Baldini (Gioconda), Emilia Rubaldi (cieca), Adele Ponzano (Laura), Giuseppe Bellantoni (Barnaba) and Vincenzo Bettoni (Alvise).

1920 Teatro Regio Torino Dejanice with Toti Dal Monte (Argelia), Ester Mazzoleni (Dejanice), Edoardo Faticanti (Dardano) and Luciano Donaggio (Labdaco).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Albatro (Pacchierotti) La fata sei with Carmen Melis (orch Pacchierotti) 054137 1255c G&T, Milano 1907
2. Albatro (Pacchierotti) L’albatro teco with Carmen Melis (orch Pacchierotti) 054136 1247c G&T, Milano 1907
3. Albatro (Pacchierotti) Romanza di Erik (orch Pacchierotti) 2-52591 10628b G&T, Milano 1907
4. Albatro (Pacchierotti) Serenata interna di Erik (orch Pacchierotti) 2-52590 10629b G&T, Milano 1907
5. Andrea Chénier (Giordano) Improvviso D14466 WBX282 Columbia, Milano 1928
6. Bohème (Puccini) Che gelida manina D5304 B626 Columbia, Milano 1924/1925 (ac)
7. Carmen (Bizet) Duetto finale act 4, pt 2  pt 1 with Maria Capuana CQX16554 WBX273, CQX16554 WBX275 Columbia, Milano 1928
8. Carmen (Bizet) Il fior D5362 B640 Columbia, Milano 19241925 (ac)
9. Ernani (Verdi) O sommo Carlo with Janina de Vitt and Mattia Battistini DB216 2-052205 HMV, Milano 1921-05-23
10. Fanciulla del West (Puccini) Or son sei mesi D5363 B639 Columbia, Milano 1924/1925 (ac)
11. Forza del destino (Verdi) Le minaccie with Pasquale Amato 92495 XPh3876 Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-02
12. Forza del destino (Verdi) Se I rimorsi with Pasquale Amato 92496 XPh3877 Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-02
13. Germania (Franchetti) Studenti! Udite, o voi 39998 XPh2361 Fonotipia, Milano 1907-01-24
14. Gioconda (Ponchielli)  Cielo e mar D14466 WBX 283 Columbia, Milano 1928
15. Guglielmo Ratcliff (Mascagni) Ombra esecrata D12278 WB 1549 Columbia, Milano 1927-09
16. Guglielmo Ratcliff (Mascagni) Quando fanciulla ancora… Come avvenisse non so D14464 D14464 WBX277 WBX279 Columbia, Milano 1928
17. Hermes (Parelli) Finale ultimo with Ida Giacomelli and Francesco Cigada (orch Parelli) 054140 1254c G&T, Milano 1907