Description

LUIGI CILLA (RIMINI, ITALY, 1885 – ?)

After performing in Italian provincial theaters, he specialized as a comprimario and became one of the most renowned interpreters of secondary roles. From 1910 to 1940, he appeared in Italy’s major theaters, including Teatro La Scala in Milan and Teatro Costanzi in Rome, where on June 12, 1911, he performed in the Italian premiere of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West. In 1912 at La Scala, he sang Dr. Cajus in Verdi’s Falstaff, a role he reprised in 1914 at Teatro La Fenice in Venice. In 1922, he appeared at La Scala as Riccardo in Wolf-Ferrari’s I Quattro Rusteghi.

He made guest appearances internationally, performing at the Boston Opera in 1910 and singing regularly at Covent Garden from 1925 to 1934. In the 1923-24 season, he toured Australia, and in 1926 he appeared at the Arena di Verona. In 1929, he performed at Teatro Costanzi in Rome in the premiere of Franco Casavola’s Il Gobbo del Califfo. He took part in the 1935 Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, singing in Pizzetti’s L’Orseolo, and in 1944, he performed at Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna in Puccini’s Turandot.

Chronology of some appearances

1910 Boston Opera House

1911 Roma Teatro Costanzi

1912 Milan Teatro La Scala

1914 Venezia Teatro La Fenice

1926 Verona Arena

TRACKLIST

1. Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Com’è gentil 7521 BA 22442 Edison 4-min cylinders, USA? 1910/1911
2. Ernani (Verdi) Come rugiata al cespite 7524 Edison 4-min cylinders, USA? 1910/1911
3. Favorita (Donizetti) Una vergine 6028 Kristall
4. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Chi mi frena (w. Bronskaja, Constantino, Blanchart, Freeman & Mardones) H1020 30443 Columbia, New York 1910-04-15
5. Mamma mia che vo’ sape (Nutile) 1658 Imperial
6. Mefistofele (Boito) Dai campi, dai prati 7539 Edison 4-min cylinders, USA? 1910/1911
7. Mignon (Thomas) Addio, Mignon 6028 Kristall
8. Mignon (Thomas) Ah non credevi tu 1564 Imperial
9. O sole mio (Di Capua) 1658 Imperial
10. Otello (Verdi) Inaffia l’ugola (w. Dua and Inghilleri) D1698 2-054312 HMV, London 1929-06-19
11. Otello (Verdi) Inaffia l’ugola (w. Noto, Dua and chorus) 2-054164 HMV, London 1926-06-17 (actual performance)
12. Otello (Verdi) Niun mi tema (w. Zenatello, Cotreuil & Sampieri) DB955 2-054168 HMV, London 1926-06-17 (actual performance)
13. Otello (Verdi) Questa è una ragna (w. Zenatello & Noto) DB955 2-054167 HMV, London 1926-06-17 (actual performance)
14. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) O Colombina 1776 Imperial
15. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba 1412, 99x-2 Imperial
16. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba 4018 Audiphon
17. Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna è mobile 779 Clausophon
18. Werther (Massenet) Ah, non mi ridestar B195 30024 Edison 4-min cylinders, USA? 1910/1911