Description

GIUSEPPINA HUGUET (BARCELONA, SPAIN, 21 SEPTEMBER, 1871 – BARCELONA, SPAIN, 1951)

 

 

 

 

She was a Spanish operatic soprano with a lyrical voice who sang throughout Europe prior to World War I. Huguet was born in 1871 and registered on official documents as “Josefina” Huguet. Her first music teacher was Francisco Bonet in Barcelona, where she soon made her operatic debut as Lakmé at the Teatro Liceu of Barcelona. She subsequently toured several countries, including some South American nations. She performed, too, with success in Italy, appearing for the first time at Milan’s La Scala in 1896, where she sang the role of Ophelie in Ambroise Thomas’s Hamlet. Huguet proved popular in Russia as well. Although Huguet often sang coloratura parts, such as Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, she also undertook the verismo roles of Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme and Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and her recordings even include excerpts from Wagner’s Lohengrin (on which she is accompanied by the famous tenor Fernando De Lucia). Indeed, her complete repertoire contained a wide range of roles: from The Queen of Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute to Nedda in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. Huguet’s career as a recording artist was not particularly extensive. Her discography consists mainly of arias and ensemble pieces from opera that were made by the forerunner of HMV. She also sung the role of Nedda in the first complete recording of Pagliacci in 1907 (with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Carlo Sabajno conducting).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1889 Barcellona  Teatro Liceo Carmen (Micaela)

1890 Alicante  Teatro Municipal Rigoletto (Gilda)

1891 Malaga  Teatro Cervantes Ugonotti (Valentina)

1894  Alicante  Teatro Principal Sonnambula (Amina)

1895 Reuss  Teatro Fortuny Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1896 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1896 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Rigoletto (Gilda)

1896 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Ugonotti (Valentina)

1896 Oporto Teatro S. Joao Puritani (Elvira)

1896 Oporto  Teatro S. Joao Sonnambula (Amina)

1896 Oporto  Teatro S. Joao Ugonotti (Valentina)

1896 New York  Academy of Music Sonnambula (Amina)

1898 Barcellona Teatro Novedades Rigoletto (Gilda)

1898 Barcellona  Teatro Novedades Ugonotti (Valentina)

1899 Torino  Teatro Regio Traviata (Violetta)

1899 Valencia  Teatro Principal Traviata (Violetta)

1900 Varsavia  Teatro Imperiale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1900 Varsavia  Teatro Imperiale Traviata (Violetta)

1900 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Rigoletto (Gilda)

1901 Bologna Teatro Duse Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1901 Milano  Teatro Lirico Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1901 Milano  Teatro Lirico Sonnambula (Amina)

1901 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1901 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Sonnambula (Amina)

1901 Reggio Emilia  Teatro Municipale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1901 Reggio Emilia  Teatro Municipale Sonnambula (Amina)

1901 Firenze  Teatro Verdi Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1901 Firenze Teatro Verdi Sonnambula (Amina)

1901 Bergamo Politeama Nuovo Ceresa Sonnambula (Amina)

1901 Venezia  Teatro La Fenice Traviata (Violetta)

1903 Barcellona Teatro Novedades Boheme (Mimi)

1903 Barcellona  Teatro Novedades Puritani (Elvira)

1903 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Mignon (Mignon)

1904 Murcia Teatro Principal Sonnambula (Amina)

1905 Desde Vendrell Casino Circo Rigoletto (Gilda)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Regnava nel silenzio… Quando rapita in estasi 53511, 53512, 10645b, 10646b G&T, Milano 1907-06-07/21
2. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Se tradirmi tu potrei (w. Cigada) 54346 10551b G&T, Milano 1907-05-06
3. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Sulla tomba (w. Giovanelli) 54445 13211b Gramophone, Milano 1909-05-08
4. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Verranno a te (w. de Tura) 54341 10550b G&T, Milano 1907-06
5. Marina (Arrieta) Duo de ténor y tiple (w. Maristany) 64050 7312F G&T, Barcelona 1902
6. Mefistofele (Boito) Amore e mistero (w. de Tura & chorus) 054265 1783c Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-16
7. Mefistofele (Boito) Lontano, lontano (w. de Tura) 54399 13086b Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-16
8. Mignon (Thomas) Io son Titania 053085 615c G&T, Milano 1906-04-26/29
9. Mignon (Thomas) Leggiadre rondinelle (w. de Segurola) 54018 7257F  G&T, Barcelona 1902 (late)
10. Mignon (Thomas) Non conosci il bel suol 053086 633c G&T, Milano 1906-04-2830
11. Niña Pancha (Romea y Valverde) Americana 63240 7200F G&T, Barcelona 1902-11
12. Norma (Bellini) Casta diva… Ah, bello, a me ritorna 53510, 10587b G&T, Milano 1907-05-06
13. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Bravo! Ebben! Se mi giudichi (Finale) (w. Barbaini, Cigada, G Pini-Corsi & Badini) 054154 1241½c G&T, Milano 1907-06-0721
14. Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) Non hai compreso (w. de Lucia) 054082, 621c G&T, Milano 1906-04-2830
15. Puritani (Bellini) Rondo 53275 7239F G&T, Barcelona 1902-11
16. Puritani (Bellini) Son vergin vezzosa 53271 7221F G&T, Barcelona 1902-11
17. Rigoletto (Verdi) Ah dunque amiamoci (w. Lanzirotti) 54310 8086b G&T, Milano 1906
18. Rigoletto (Verdi) Ah, veglia o donna (w. Minolfi) 54306 8043b G&T, Milano 1906-04-26/29