Carla Gavazzi
Encyclopedia
Carla Gavazzi was an Italian operatic soprano
, largely based in Italy, and particularly associated with the
verismo
repertory.
Carla Gavazzi was one of many talented Italian sopranos from the 1950s, who were eclipsed by the likes of Renata Tebaldi
and Maria Callas
. She possessed a powerful, warm and vibrant voice combined with expressive delivery and fine musicianship.
She made her debut as Mimi in La bohème
, in 1940, and sang throughout Italy in the standard lirico-spinto repertory, encompassing works by Mozart, Puccini and Verdi.
She was also admired in contemporary works such as; Hindemith's Mathis der Maler, Malipiero
's La favola del figlio cambiato, Respighi
's La campana sommersa, Refice's Margherita da Cortona, Alfano
's Cyrano de Bergerac and Risurrezione. Alfano also chose her for the premiere of his song cycle to poetry by Tagone.
Gavazzi appeared in an Italian television production of Cavalleria rusticana
in 1957 and in Jan Schmidt-Garre
's film Opera Fanatic in 1998, and made a number of recordings with Cetra
in the early 1950s such as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni
, Nedda in Pagliacci
, Adriana in Adriana Lecouvreur
, and Minnie in La fanciulla del west
.
In 1959, family-related reasons caused her to retire from the stage, sadly just as she was invited to appear at the Royal Opera House
in London, which could have been the beginning of an international career.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, largely based in Italy, and particularly associated with the
verismo
Verismo
Verismo was an Italian literary movement which peaked between approximately 1875 and the early 1900s....
repertory.
Carla Gavazzi was one of many talented Italian sopranos from the 1950s, who were eclipsed by the likes of Renata Tebaldi
Renata Tebaldi
Renata Tebaldi was an Italian lirico-spinto soprano popular in the post-war period...
and Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
. She possessed a powerful, warm and vibrant voice combined with expressive delivery and fine musicianship.
She made her debut as Mimi in La bohème
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
, in 1940, and sang throughout Italy in the standard lirico-spinto repertory, encompassing works by Mozart, Puccini and Verdi.
She was also admired in contemporary works such as; Hindemith's Mathis der Maler, Malipiero
Gian Francesco Malipiero
Gian Francesco Malipiero was an Italian composer, musicologist, music teacher and editor.-Early years:Born in Venice into an aristocratic family, the grandson of the opera composer Francesco Malipiero, Gian Francesco Malipiero was prevented by family troubles from pursuing his musical education in...
's La favola del figlio cambiato, Respighi
Ottorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi was an Italian composer, musicologist and conductor. He is best known for his orchestral "Roman trilogy": Fountains of Rome ; Pines of Rome ; and Roman Festivals...
's La campana sommersa, Refice's Margherita da Cortona, Alfano
Franco Alfano
Franco Alfano was an Italian composer and pianist. Best known today for his opera Risurrezione and above all for having completed Puccini's opera Turandot in 1926. He had considerable success with several of his own works during his lifetime.- Biography :He was born in Posillipo, Naples...
's Cyrano de Bergerac and Risurrezione. Alfano also chose her for the premiere of his song cycle to poetry by Tagone.
Gavazzi appeared in an Italian television production of Cavalleria rusticana
Cavalleria rusticana
Cavalleria rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play written by Giovanni Verga based on his short story. Considered one of the classic verismo operas, it premiered on May 17, 1890 at the Teatro...
in 1957 and in Jan Schmidt-Garre
Jan Schmidt-Garre
-Biography:Jan Schmidt-Garre studied philosophy at the Hochschule für Philosophie der Jesuiten in Munich from 1982 to 1986...
's film Opera Fanatic in 1998, and made a number of recordings with Cetra
Cetra
Cetra Records was an Italian company which produced opera recordings from the 1930s onwards. Its roster of artists included Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Lina Pagliughi, Ebe Stignani, Carlo Bergonzi, Galliano Masini, Giovanni Malipiero, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Carlo Tagliabue, Rolando Panerai,...
in the early 1950s such as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
, Nedda in Pagliacci
Pagliacci
Pagliacci , sometimes incorrectly rendered with a definite article as I Pagliacci, is an opera consisting of a prologue and two acts written and composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It recounts the tragedy of a jealous husband in a commedia dell'arte troupe...
, Adriana in Adriana Lecouvreur
Adriana Lecouvreur
Adriana Lecouvreur is an opera in four acts by Francesco Cilea to an Italian libretto by Arturo Colautti, based on the play by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé...
, and Minnie in La fanciulla del west
La fanciulla del West
La fanciulla del West is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini, based on the play The Girl of the Golden West by the American author David Belasco. Its highly-publicised premiere occurred in New York City in 1910...
.
In 1959, family-related reasons caused her to retire from the stage, sadly just as she was invited to appear at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in London, which could have been the beginning of an international career.
Sources
- Musicweb-international.com, Christopher Howell, February 2003.
- Opera News, Obituaries, August 2008.