Description

ROMAN ISIDOROVICH CHAROV (REAL NAME ABRAM ISSEROVICH GUROVICH, KNOWN IN EUROPE AS ROMANO CHAROV-CIARINI, ITALIAN: ROMANO CIAROFF-CIARINI; 1878, NIKOLAEV – 1964, ODESSA)

 

 

 

 

Romano Chiaroff-Ciarini studied singing at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under Gabel and later with Professor Nicolai. On March 27, 1905, he appeared in the student performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Kashchey the Immortal as a sign of protest against the composer’s dismissal from the conservatory, singing the title role of Kashchey. This performance is considered his operatic debut.

After completing his studies, he performed in various cities, including Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov, and Kazan (1907–1909), followed by engagements in Ekaterinburg and Perm (1909–1910). He made his debut at the Mariinsky Theatre as Lensky in Eugene Onegin. Chiaroff-Ciarini then embarked on an international career, performing in Genoa, Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Barcelona (Teatro Liceo, 1912), London, Zurich, Bucharest, and Warsaw. In 1913, he sang in Lakmé and The Snow Maiden at the Petersburg National House.

In the 1925–26 season, he performed at GATOB (the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet) and toured the USSR in 1927 with celebrated sopranos Lydia Lipkovskaya and Valeria Barsova. He sang in Baku in August 1929, where critics praised him as a “Russian Italian” for his warm timbre, extensive range, and technical mastery.

Over his career, Chiaroff-Ciarini performed more than 30 operas, collaborating with renowned artists like George Baklanov, Lydia Lipkovskaya, and E. De-Vos Soboleva. He premiered roles such as Hoffmann and Des Grieux (Manon) in Ekaterinburg. During World War II, he was evacuated to Tajikistan, where he sang in hospitals, taught, and supported young singers at the National Opera Theatre, earning the title of National Artist of Tajikistan. One of his last concerts took place in Leningrad in 1946.

In the 1950s, Chiaroff-Ciarini devoted himself to teaching at the Odessa Conservatory, where he nurtured the next generation of singers until his death.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1911 Montreaux Kursaal Boheme (Rodolfo)

1912 Brescia Teatro Grande Romeo et Juliette (Romeo)

1913 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1915 Venezia Teatro Rossini Favorita (Fernando)

1916 Milano Teatro Carcano Manon (De Grieux)

1917 Genova Politeama Genovese Favorita (Fernando)

1918 Alessandria Teatro Municipale Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1919 Palermo Teatro Massimo Werther (Werther)

1920 Genova Teatro Paganini Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

1923 Cagliari Teatro Civico Le Donne Curiose (Florindo)

1925 Bucarest Teatro Opera Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Werther (Massenet): Ah! non mi ridestar Fonotipia 92929 XPh 4819
2. Romeo et Juliette (Giunod): Deh sorgi, o luce, in ciel Fonotipia 92931 XPh 4822
3. Pescatori di perle (Bizet): Mi par d’udire ancora Fonotipia 92930 XPh 4824
4. Manon (Massenet): Il sogno Fonotipia 92895 XPh 4825
5. Manon (Massenet): Ah! dispar vision (w. de Frate) Fonotipia 92896 XPh 4826
6. Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah, ben lo sai Fonotipia 92932 XPh 4827
7. Gioielli della Madonna (Wolf-Ferrari): Madonna con sospiri Fonotipia 69103 XPh 4959
8. Gioielli della Madonna (Wolf-Ferrari): Madonna del dolore Fonotipia 69104 XPh 4960
9. Gioielli della Madonna (Wolf-Ferrari): Prostato nella polvere Fonotipia 69105 XPh 4961
10. Gioielli della Madonna (Wolf-Ferrari): Sanno odor d’incenso (w. Sarzanini) Fonotipia 69106 XPh 4964
11. Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): Madrigalo (w. Perosio) Fonotipia 69357 XPh 5252
12. Favorita (Donizetti): Spirto gentil Fonotipia 69356 XPh 5251
13. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Di gioia di contento Fonotipia 69280 XPh5175
14. Puritani (Bellini): A te, o cara Fonotipia 69277 XPh5172
15. Rigoletto (Verdi): Un dì, se ben rammentomi (w. Montesanto, Perosio & Lollini) Fonotipia 69233 XPh5128
16. Rigoletto (Verdi): Bella figlia dell’amore (w. Montesanto, Perosio & Lollini) Fonotipia 69234 XPh5129
17. Autumn, romance (Tchaikovsky) Gramplasttrest 4561
18. On the Yellow Cornfields, romance (Tchaikovsky) Gramplasttrest 4562