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. Rigoletto (Verdi) Bella figlia dell’amore (w. Zaccaria, Lanzirotti & Cigada) 054096 643c G&T, Milano 1906-05
2. Rigoletto (Verdi) Caro nome 53270 7220F G&T, Barcelona 1902-11
3. Rigoletto (Verdi) È il sol dell’anima (w. de Lucia) 054084 638c G&T, Milano 1906-04-28/30
4. Rigoletto (Verdi) Oh, mia Gilda… Lassù nel ciel (w. Minolfi) 054095 613c G&T, Milano 1906-04-2629
5. Rigoletto (Verdi) Parla siam soli… Tutte le feste al tempio (w. Minolfi) 53480 8044b G&T, Milano 1906-04-2629
6. Rigoletto (Verdi) Piangi, piangi fanciulla (w. Minolfi) 54307 8047½b G&T, Milano 1906-04-28/30
7. Sonnambula (Bellini) D’un pensiero (w. Giorgini & chorus) 054250, 1845c Gramophone, Milano 1909-05-11
8. Stella, Valzer cantate (Rico) Victor 45038 USA, 1909-04-30
9. Traviata (Verdi) Addio del passato 53139 7238F G&T, Barcelona 1902-11
10. Traviata (Verdi) Ah, fors’è lui… Sempre libera 53474, 8041¾b 54296 8042b G&T, Milano 1906-04-26/29
11. Traviata (Verdi) Alfredo di questo core (w. G Pini-Corsi & Badini) 054167 1251c G&T, Milano 1907-06-0721
12. Traviata (Verdi) Alfredo, Alfredo (w. Giovanelli & Federici) 054264 1827c Gramophone, Milano 1909-05-04
13. Traviata (Verdi) Parigi, o cara (w. de Lucia) 054081 620c G&T, Milano 1906-04-28/30
14. Traviata (Verdi) Parigi, o cara (w. Maristany) 54025 7249F G&T, Barcelona 1902
15. Traviata (Verdi) Sempre libera (w. Lara) 54296 8042b G&T, Milano 1906
16. Vêpres Siciliennes (Verdi) Mercè diletti amichi 53452 8057b G&T, Milano 1906-04-28/30
17. Vêpres Siciliennes (Verdi) Mercè diletti amici (Bolero) 53138 7219F G&T, Barcelona 1902-11
18. Zauberflöte (Mozart) Gli angui d’inferno 053001 7721F G&T, Barcelona 1903-09