Description

DINU CONSTANTIN BĂDESCU (CARACAL, 17 OCTOBER, 1904 – BUCHAREST, 23 OCTOBER, 1980)

He studied under George Folescu at the Bucharest Conservatory and made his debut as a baritone in 1931 at the Cluj Opera, performing Germont-père in La Traviata. Later that same year, he debuted as a tenor, also in Cluj, in the title role of Flotow’s Alessandro Stradella. From 1934 to 1961, he was the leading tenor at the Bucharest Opera, where his interpretations of Verdi and Puccini roles earned particular admiration. In 1937, he made a guest appearance at the Warsaw National Opera in Puccini’s Turandot and Gounod’s Faust, partnering with Fedor Chaliapin and Tiana Lemnitz. In 1938, he performed at the Bologna and Brescia Operas and toured Holland in 1939. Between 1941 and 1944, he was a member of the Vienna Volksoper and made guest appearances in Berlin, Dresden, Stuttgart, Frankfurt aM, Mannheim, Graz, Prague, and Brno. From 1947, he enjoyed great success at the Vienna State Opera, appearing in over 50 performances. Between 1955 and 1961, he performed at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, as well as at the operas in Leningrad, Sofia, Prague, and especially the Budapest National Opera. In his later years, he taught in Bucharest. His major roles included Manrico in Il Trovatore, Radames in Aida, the Duke in Rigoletto, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and José in Carmen.

TRACKLIST

1. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Di tu se Fedele
2. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) La rivedrò (w. chorus)
3. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) La scena finale di tua moglie (w. Olariu, Constantinescu, Enigarescu & chorus)
4. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) O qual soave brivido (w. Olariu)
5. Boheme (Puccini) Addio, dolce svegliare (w. Tassian, Cretoiu & Dragotescu)
6. Boheme (Puccini) Che gelida manina
7. Boheme (Puccini) Mimì è una civetta (w. Cretoiu & Tassian)
8. Boheme (Puccini) Nei cieli bigi (Tassian & Secareanu)
9. Boheme (Puccini) O soave fanciulla (w. Cretoiu)