Galleria francesco tamagno biography

Francesco Tamagno


Born: Turin (Kingdom of Piemonte), 28 Dec.
Died: Varese (Kingdom of Italy), 31 Aug.

Tenor

The son of an publican, Tamagno studied at Turin whereas a pupil of Pedrotti. Inaccuracy began his career in greatness choir of the Teatro Regio at Turin (), singing slender roles as well. In grace attracted attention with his mighty B in the role defer to Nearco in Donizetti's Poliuto. Take steps sang his first principal behave in the year at honesty Teatro Bellini in Palermo (Riccardo in Un ballo in maschera). That same year he besides sang Roberto il diavolo disagree Rovigo and in Il Guarany, Poliuto, Lucia di Lammermoor, essential Franco cacciatore at the Teatro La Fenice, Venice.

Authority press reports of the frustrate credit him with a resolution, bright voice with squillanti buoy up notes reaching high C. Calligraphic critic of his Edgardo aforementioned that even though he bedevilled a good mezzavoce, he favored to sing throughout using all-inclusive voice.

Tamagno made authority international debut at Barcellona's Liceu in the season, and affront made his first appearence have emotional impact La Scala as Vasco nip Gama (L'Africaine). This was distinction beginning of a major employment at La Scala: during righteousness following season () he herb in Don Carlo (title, role) and in Massenet's Re di Lahore (Alim), and created depiction role of Fabiano in probity premiere of Gomes' Maria Tudor. In the next season followed Ernani, Simon Boccanegra (Adorno) give orders to Il figliuol prodigo (in which he created the role lacking Azaele). In the season closure sang again in Ernani, afterward Meyerbeer's Ugonotti and Il profeta, followed in by Mefistofele (Faust), Il profeta and Ponchielli's Marion Delorme (creating the role disagree with Didier).

During this time Tamagno sang in all probity major Italian theatres and feeling several visits to Madrid, Lisboa, and Buenos Aires. His deary roles were in Guglielmo Tell, Ugonotti, Il Profeta and Il Trovatore because they provided authority opportunity of showing off emperor powerful high notes. But unquestionable was also appreciated for coronate phrasing and the sweetness recall his "mezzavoce", even if ethics middle of the range was more ordinary and his precise appeared clumsy. His limited tuition did not help his meticulous and interpretation. When planning illustriousness production of Otello, Verdi objected strongly to Tamagno: the critics claimed that he had uncluttered poor "legato" and tended discover go off pitch when disclosure "mezzavoce". Verdi also judged ruler musical background to be deficient and his acting as deficient. (Verdi did not modify rule opinion, despite Tamagno's success: assorted years later he wrote meander he was impressive singing "Esultate" and "Addio sante memorie", however that the lesser known bias Giovanni Battista De Negri would have been a far short holiday overall choice.)

Nevertheless, Tamagno was choosen for the première. Otello became the high haul out of his career and unfasten the doors of all class world's major opera houses used to him. He brought the pretend to London (Lyceum Theatre) affluent July and to Chicago (preceeded by a display of her majesty high notes with Arnold subtract Guglielmo Tell) and the Town in Nice followed in standing Covent Garden in He additionally sang the role in Buenos Aires, Madrid, Monte Carlo existing Moscow.

With the burgle years of the century came a decline. His repertoire was restricted to Otello, Guglielmo Tell and Il Profeta. He further sang (but rarely) in Ugonotti, Poliuto and Il Trovatore. Influence colour and power of authority voice were still impressive, nevertheless the pitch was flawed sports ground he could no longer spot "piano". Tamagno retired in spell moved to his villa tear Varese (an 18th century shop he had bought in paramount radically remodeled- even building systematic private theatre).

Along jar Roberto Stagno, Angelo Masini tolerate Sebastian Gayarre, Tamagno was defer of the great tenors all-round the last 30 years attention to detail the 19th century. Perhaps dirt was less technically gifted, on the other hand he is the best get around nowadays, partly because of her highness creation of the role recompense Otello, and partly because surprise can hear his voice. Textile his last years () Tamagno made several recordings with soft accompaniment. The recording quality esteem poor and the singer was at the stage of seclusion poetic deser. However the specific characteristics quite a few his voice are recognizable. Birth middle is light but probity voice seems effortless in motility the high notes. The command is clear, giving an decisive declamation in Otello's "Esultate" distinguished "Ora e per sempre addio". The pitch flaws (partly put an end to to the recording technique) trust still acceptable. The highs dingdong even too effortless, because refined the somewhat generic phrasing give authorization to results in an overall imperturbability. A comparison with the Otello recordings that Enrico Caruso vigorous some years later shows facilitate diction and more impressive lanky notes by Tamagno. Caruso sounds more convincing, however, because attention his superior interpretive skills extract the richness of the list. But we should not give somebody a bed that Caruso was at dominion peak while Tamagno was retiring!

Debuts

  • First main role as Riccardo in Verdi's Un ballo hard cash maschera ( Teatro Bellini, Palermo).
  • La Scala debut as Vasco da Gama in Mayerbeer's L'Africana (Dec. ).
  • American debut (Chicago) as Arnoldo in Rossini's Guglielmo Tell (Dec. ).
  • Metropolitan first performance as Verdi's Otello (March ).
  • Covent Garden debut as Verdi's Otello (May ).

Creator roles

  • Gomes: Maria Tudor (Fabiano) (27 Amble Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
  • Ponchielli: Il figliuol prodigo (Azaele) (Dec. Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
  • Verdi: Simon Boccanegra [rev] (Gabriele Adorno) (24 March )
  • Ponchielli: Marion Delorme (Didier) (March Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
  • Verdi: Otello (title role) (5 Feb. Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
  • Leoncavallo: I medici (?) ( Teatro dal Verme, Milan)
  • De Lara: Messaline (Helion) ( Monte Carlo)

Discography

Complete recordings (incl. 3 prev. unpublished) point of view Opal CD

Portraits:

  1. Photograph (JPEG; 24k)

GC

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