Genarro Papi
Encyclopedia
Gennaro Papi was an Italian
conductor known for his work in the field of opera
.
A native of Naples, Papi studied at the conservatory in that city, holding various posts as conductor and choirmaster after his graduation. He came to the United States
in 1913, becoming Arturo Toscanini
's assistant on the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera
in New York City
. When Toscanini left the company, Papi became principal conductor, making his debut in that position on November 16, 1916 with Giacomo Puccini
's Manon Lescaut
. He left the Metropolitan in 1927 to become the first conductor of the Chicago Civic Opera
, but returned to his old post in 1935.
Papi had collapsed and was found dead in his apartment just hours before he was to conduct a performance of La traviata
at the Metropolitan on November 29, 1941; the evening, which was to be broadcast over the radio, marked the company debut of tenor Jan Peerce
. Ettore Panizza
instead conducted. News of Papi's death was intended to be withheld from the cast until the performance ended, though the whole cast knew by the end of the first act.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
conductor known for his work in the field of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
.
A native of Naples, Papi studied at the conservatory in that city, holding various posts as conductor and choirmaster after his graduation. He came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1913, becoming Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
's assistant on the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. When Toscanini left the company, Papi became principal conductor, making his debut in that position on November 16, 1916 with Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire...
's Manon Lescaut
Manon Lescaut (Puccini)
Manon Lescaut is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini. The story is based on the 1731 novel L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost....
. He left the Metropolitan in 1927 to become the first conductor of the Chicago Civic Opera
Chicago Civic Opera
The Civic Opera Company was a Chicago company that produced seven seasons of grand opera in the Auditorium Theater from 1922 to 1928, and three seasons at its own Civic Opera House from 1929 to 1931 before falling victim to financial difficulties brought on in part by the Great Depression.-...
, but returned to his old post in 1935.
Papi had collapsed and was found dead in his apartment just hours before he was to conduct a performance of La traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
at the Metropolitan on November 29, 1941; the evening, which was to be broadcast over the radio, marked the company debut of tenor Jan Peerce
Jan Peerce
Jan Peerce was an American operatic tenor. Peerce was an accomplished performer on the operatic and Broadway concert stages, in solo recitals, and as a recording artist. He is the father of film director Larry Peerce....
. Ettore Panizza
Ettore Panizza
Ettore Panizza was an Argentinian conductor and composer, one of the leading conductors of the early 20th century. Panizza possessed technical mastery and was popular and influential during his time, widely admired by Richard Strauss.- Biography :Panizza was born in Buenos Aires, of Italian parents...
instead conducted. News of Papi's death was intended to be withheld from the cast until the performance ended, though the whole cast knew by the end of the first act.