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. Hermes (Parelli) Miriam, fa core (orch Parelli)  2-52588 10635b G&T, Milano 1907
2. Hermes (Parelli) Se alcuna tregua (orch Parelli)  2-52589 10637b G&T, Milano 1907
3. Hermes (Parelli) Si, io t’amo with Carmen Melis (orch Parelli) 054138 1253c G&T, Milano 1907
4. Jana (Virgilio) Geddu alla triste casa with Carmen Melis (orch Virgilio) 054139 1266c G&T, Milano 1907
5. Jana (Virgilio) Sì, dannato morrò (orch Virgilio) 2-52587 10672b G&T, Milano 1907
6. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Hai tradito il ciel D5362 B625 Columbia, Milano 19241925 (ac)
7. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Ah! Manon, mi tradisce 92491 XPh3870 Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-01
8. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Donna non vidi mai D5364 B641 Columbia, Milano 19241925 (ac)
9. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Guardate! pazzo son’ io with Pasquale Amato 92492 Xph3875 Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-02
10. Mefistofele (Boito) Giunto sul passo test, unpubl., 44604 Edison 2-min cylinders, 1912
11. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) No! Pagliacio non son 92490 Xph 3873 Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-02
12. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba 92489 XPh3888 Fonotipia, Milano 1909-06-04
13. Silvano (Mascagni) S’e spento il sol D12278 WB1550 Columbia, Milano 1927-09
14. Trovatore (Verdi) Ah! si, ben mio D5361 B646 Columbia, Milano 19241925 (ac)
15. Trovatore (Verdi) Deserto sulla terra 1958-M WB1977 Columbia, Milano 1928
16. Trovatore (Verdi) Di quella pira 1958-M WB1976 Columbia, Milano 1928
17. Trovatore (Verdi) Di quella pira D5361 B628 Columbia, Milano 19241925 (ac)