Description

ÁNGEL R. ESQUIVEL (ANGEL RAFAEL ESQUIVEL TIRADO) (CHALCO, STATE OF MEXICO, 1892 – MEXICO CITY, MARCH 1, 1967)

 

 

 

 

He studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico and later joined the Opera Company founded by the renowned maestro José Pierson, thus beginning his career in the world of opera.

He subsequently moved to Italy, where he achieved his greatest successes with the roles of Marcello in La Bohème, the Count di Luna in Il Trovatore, and especially the title role in Rigoletto at the Teatro Verme in Milan, a performance that became legendary throughout Italy. He remained in Italy for nine years, earning enthusiastic acclaim in numerous cities.

He later traveled to France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and eventually New York, where he performed with the Miguel Lerdo de Tejada Typical Orchestra. From there he went to Philadelphia, where he made recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company.

Upon returning to Mexico, he had acquired vast experience and a highly refined artistry. In his comeback appearance at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, he sang the title role in Rigoletto. One of his last performances was Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which had not been staged in Mexico for forty years.

For more than thirty years he devoted himself to teaching. It is best, however, to let him describe this period in his own words:

“…When the operatic world in which I had flourished began to decline, I felt completely at a loss; it seemed that the purpose of my life had come to an end. Then Maestro David Silva suggested that, upon his retirement, I take over his voice classes at the National Conservatory of Music and at the National School of Music of UNAM.

At first, the idea did not appeal to me, for I still felt young enough and fully capable of continuing my career as a singer rather than becoming a teacher. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try.

What a new horizon opened before me… I began to take pleasure in every voice entrusted to me. Watching my students develop and progress gave me the same joy I had experienced as a performer—indeed, an even greater one—because I had shared in shaping that achievement.

I see myself reflected in each of them. I suffer through their hardships and rejoice in their successes, for a small part of me lives on in every one of their voices.”

Maestro Esquivel died in Mexico City on March 1, 1967. Thirty-one years after his death, his students continued to remember him with sincere gratitude.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

A la luz de la luna (Julio Ituarte) Victor 72498 B-19648 5-1-1917 Camden, New Jersey

A la orilla de un palmar (Manuel M. Ponce) (w. García Cornejo & Talavera) Victor 69553 B-19680 5-15 -1917 Camden, New Jersey

Adelita (Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) Victor 68500 C-19644 5-2-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Al pié de tu reja (Russo-Velasco) Victor 68498 C-19646 5-17-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Asómate a la ventana (Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) (w. García Cornejo & Talavera) Victor 69790 B-19823 5- 17-1917 Camden, New Jersey

El desterrado (Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) Victor 69554 B-19651 5-1-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Ensueños (Mario Talavera) Victor 69792 B-19671 5-3-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Fingida (Luis Jordá) Victor 72495 B-19673 5-3-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Himno nacional mexicano (Jaime Nunó) Victor 69547 B-19862 5-18-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Huju hujule (Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) Victor 72942 B-19669 5-3-1917 Camden, New Jersey

La pajarera (Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) (w. García Cornejo & Talavera) Victor 68497 C-19668 5-2-1917 Camden, New Jersey

La paloma (Sebastián Yradier) (w. García Cornejo & Talavera) Victor 72497 B-19830 5-15-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Las mañanitas (Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) (w. García Cornejo & Talavera) Victor 69547 B-19863 5-17-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Las violetas (Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) Victor 68497 C-19638 4-30-1917 Camden, New Jersey

Los besos que te dí Danza mexicana Miguel Lerdo de Tejada (piano) Victor 69550 B-19665 5-2-1917 Camden, New Jersey