Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Aug 30, 2011

Giovanni Breviario (Tenor) (Bergamo, Italy 1891 – ? 1982)



                                                                 Canio



He was an Italian operatic tenor, particularly associated with Italian dramatic roles. Breviario was born at Bergamo. He studied in Milan with Dante Lari, and made his stage debut in Pola, as Manrico, in 1924. He then sang the Italian repertory to considerable acclaim in Holland from 1927 to 1934. In Italy, he sang at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Parma, La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Regio Parma, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Abroad he appeared at Teatro Nacional Sao Carlos in Lisbon, Hungarian State Opera in Budapest, also making guest appearances at the opera houses of Malta and Cairo. He was especially appreciated in heroic roles such as; Pollione, Raoul, Radames, Otello, Canio, Andrea Chenier, Cavaradossi, etc. He retired from the stage in 1949, and became a teacher at the Music Conservatory of Johannesburg in South Africa. He spent his last years in his native Bergamo, where he died. Breviario is probably best remembered for his Pollione in the first complete recording of Norma in 1937, opposite Gina Cigna, Ebe Stignani, Tancredi Pasero, under Vittorio Gui.

Chronology of some appearances

1925 Milano Teatro Carcano Ernani (Ernani)
1927 La Valletta/Malta Teatro Reale Carmen (Don Jose)
1927 La Valletta/Malta Teatro Reale Gioconda (Enzo)
1927 Rotterdam Groote Schouwburg Carmen (Don Jose)
1928 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Carmen (Don Jose)
1928 Amsterdam  Staddschouwburg Gioconda (Enzo)
1928 Lisbona Coliseo Recrejos Gioconda (Enzo)
1929 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Boheme (Rodolfo)
1929 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1929 Modena  Teatro Municipale Boheme (Rodolfo)
1929 Modena  Teatro Municipale Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1930 Rotterdam  Groote Schouwburg Carmen (Don Jose)
1930 Budrio  Teatro Consorziale Carmen (Don Jose)
1930 'S-Gravenhage Gebouw Voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen Carmen (Don Jose)
1930 'S-Gravenhage  Gebouw Voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1930 'S-Gravenhage  Gebouw Voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen Gioconda Enzo)
1931 'S-Gravenhage  Gebouw Voor Kusten en Wetenschappen Carmen (Don Jose)
1931 Bolzano  Teatro Civico Carmen (Don Jose)
1931 Orvieto -Teatro Civico Carmen (Don Jose)
1932 'S-Gravenhage  Gebouw Voor Kusten en Wetenschappen Carmen (Don Jose)
1933 Amsterdam  Stadsschouwburg Carmen (Don Jose)
1933 Rotterdam Groote Schowuburg Ernani (Ernani)
1934 Roma  Eiar Ernani (Ernani)
1940 Milano Teatro Lirico Boheme (Rodolfo)
1940 Milano Teatro Lirico Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1940 Prato Teatro Metastasio Ernani (Ernani)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE


 





Cetra
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba  P.CB 20298  2-70024
Otello (Verdi): Niun mi tema  P.CB 20298  2-70021

HMV, Milano 1929-04-15
Complete Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): with Piero Biasini, Delia Sanzio, Olga De Franco and Mimma Pantaleoni

Cetra, 1937
Complete Norma (Bellini) with Gina Cigna, Ebe Stignani and Tancredi Pasero

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