FORGOTTEN OPERA SINGERS : Riccardo Martin (Tenor) (Hopkinsville, KY 1874

Apr 23, 2012

Riccardo Martin (Tenor) (Hopkinsville, KY 1874 - New York 1952)

Pinkerton

Enzo

His real name was Hugh Whitfield Martin. He was granted an endowment which allowed him, in 1901, to go to Paris to study with Giovanni Sbriglia and Jean de Reszke; he later completed his studies with Vincenzo Lombardi in Florence and Beniamino Carelli in Naples, he sang Andrea Chénier at Verona. His first American appearances were at the French Opera House in New Orleans during the 1906-07 season. Shortly thereafter he made his Metropolitan Opera debut (20 Nov 1907) as Faust in Mefistofele, which also featured the debut of Feodor Chaliapin. He toured with the San Carlo Opera Company and in 1907 made his Metropolitan début as Arrigo Boito's Faust; he remained with the company until 1915. Martin appeared in three world premieres of American works at the Metropolitan: Converse's Pipe of Desire (18 Mar 1909), Parker's Mona (14 Mar 1912), and Damrosch's Cyrano (27 Feb 1913). Collectively, those works were only mounted thirteen times at that house. He made his Covent Garden début in 1910 as Pinkerton, also singing Giacomo Puccini's Des Grieux, Radames, Faust, Cavaradossi, Angel Clare (Frédéric d’Erlanger's Tess) and, in 1911, Canio and Dick Johnson. He appeared at Boston and in Chicago (1920–23) as Radames, Nicias (Thaïs) and Don José. He had a voice of great beauty, though lacking in individuality, and a fine presence, but he suffered comparison with Caruso throughout his career. Martin died in New York City in 1952.

Chronology of some appearances

1907 New York Metropolitan Opera Mefistofele (Faust)
1910 London Covent Garden Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

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