Mattia Battistini, "A tanto amor", Donizetti: La Favorita (recorded in 1906)

(By request from transformingArt) The great Italian baritone Mattia Battistini (1856-1928), popularly known as "The King of the Baritones" and "The Glory of Italy", in "A tanto amor" from Donizetti’s La Favorita. The recording was made in 1906 for G&T. The picture of the young Battistini in costume in 1878 comes fromJacques Chuilon, Mattia Battistini: King of Baritones and Baritone of Kings, translated by Thomas Glasow (Plymouth: Scarecrow Press, 2009). The following biographical profile of Battistini comes from "Cantabile-Subito: A Site for Collectors of Great Singers of the Past" (www.cantabile-subito.de): "Battistini was born in Rome and brought up in Contigliano, a village near Rome. His father, a professor of anatomy at Rome University, would have preferred his son to take up a career in medicine or law, but from the beginning Mattia showed a prodigous musical talent. He studied with Venceslao Persichini (who also taught Francesco Marconi, Titta Ruffo and Giuseppe de Luca). While still a student he sang in public. His debut was in Donizettis La Favorita in 1878 which was an immediate success. In the first three years he toured Italy and appeared in roles of La Forza del Destino, Il Trovatore, Rigoletto, Il Guarany, Gli Ugenotti, Dinorah, LAfricaine, I Puritani, Lucia di Lammermoor, Aida, Ernani, as well as taking part in the world premieres of several new operas. What a repertory for a young singer! He went to South America in 1881 for the first time, where he ...

Channel: YouTube Video Length: 4m 7s Date Found: Sun, Jul 18 2010 10:21 AM Category: Music Date Produced: Sun, Jul 18 2010 9:55 AM View Count: 0