Alessandro Bonci (February 10, 1870 – August 9, 1940) was an Italian lyric tenor known internationally for his association with the bel canto repertoire. He sang at many famous theatres, including New York's Metropolitan Opera, Milan's La Scala and London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
On December 3, 1906, Bonci made his American debut with the Manhattan Opera Company in New York City; again the opera was I Puritani. He stayed two seasons with the company, becoming a popular competitor to Enrico Caruso, who was the rival Metropolitan Opera's major drawcard. Bonci himself joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1908 and, in 1914, the Chicago Opera. He also made a transcontinental tour of America in 1910-11, giving song recitals.
Bonci served in the Italian army during World War I, returning to America to tour for three seasons after the end of the conflict. He appeared again at the Metropolitan Opera, and sang in Chicago during the 1920-21 season. In 1922 and 1923 he served as the principal tenor of the Teatro Costanzi in Rome and conducted master classes across the United States the following year. After 1925, Bonci entered into partial retirement, devoting himself primarily to teaching in Milan. He still sang occasionally in public as late as 1935.
He died in Viserba, Rimini, in 1940, at the age of 70.[1]
Recordingsedit
Bonci's artistry was captured on disc by the Fonotipia, Edison and Columbia companies. His first recordings were made in 1905 and his last in 1926, with a handful produced between these dates (in 1913). He is heard to best advantage in operatic arias by Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti and Gluck, but he was also renowned in Europe and the United States for his Rodolfo in Puccini's La boheme, his Riccardo in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera and his Duke of Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto.
Voiceedit
Bonci was a demure man and his voice was not overly large. It was sweet-toned, stylish and supple, with excellent high notes and an easy high C. He sang with what at the time would have been considered a standard vibrato, though later generations (until our own) preferred a slower one.
Referencesedit
David Ewen, Encyclopedia of the Opera: New Enlarged Edition, New York; Hill and Wang, 1963.
Michael Scott, The Record of Singing, London; Duckworth, 1977.
J.B. Steane, The Grand Tradition, London; Duckworth, 1974.
Harold Rosenthal and John Warrack, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera (Second Edition); Oxford University Press, 1980.
Specific
^"Alessandro Bonci, Lyric Tenor, Dies. Singer, Known For His Perfect Technique, First Heard Here In 1906, Had One Teacher. Compared With Caruso Joined Metropolitan in 1908 After Popularity Had Made Him Center of Opera War". The New York Times. August 11, 1940.
alessandro, bonci, february, 1870, august, 1940, italian, lyric, tenor, known, internationally, association, with, canto, repertoire, sang, many, famous, theatres, including, york, metropolitan, opera, milan, scala, london, royal, opera, house, covent, garden,. Alessandro Bonci February 10 1870 August 9 1940 was an Italian lyric tenor known internationally for his association with the bel canto repertoire He sang at many famous theatres including New York s Metropolitan Opera Milan s La Scala and London s Royal Opera House Covent Garden Alessandro BonciBonci in 1911Born 1870 02 10 February 10 1870Cesena Kingdom of ItalyDiedAugust 10 1940 1940 08 10 aged 70 Rimini Kingdom of Italy Contents 1 Biography 2 Recordings 3 Voice 4 References 5 External linksBiography editA native of Cesena Romagna Bonci started out as an apprentice shoemaker He secured a music scholarship to the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro working for five years with Carlo Pedrotti the teacher of the heroic tenor Francesco Tamagno and then Felice Coen He also had private singing lessons in Paris with the retired baritone Enrico Delle Sedie nbsp Bonci featured in a 1910 Columbia Phonograph advertisement Alessandro Bonci made his debut in Parma in 1896 singing the role of Fenton in Giuseppe Verdi s Falstaff at the Teatro Regio Before the end of his first season he was engaged to sing at La Scala Milan where he debuted in Vincenzo Bellini s I Puritani Appearances elsewhere in Europe followed including at London s Royal Opera House Covent Garden He first sang at Covent Garden in 1900 and he would return there in 1903 and 1907 08 On December 3 1906 Bonci made his American debut with the Manhattan Opera Company in New York City again the opera was I Puritani He stayed two seasons with the company becoming a popular competitor to Enrico Caruso who was the rival Metropolitan Opera s major drawcard Bonci himself joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1908 and in 1914 the Chicago Opera He also made a transcontinental tour of America in 1910 11 giving song recitals Bonci served in the Italian army during World War I returning to America to tour for three seasons after the end of the conflict He appeared again at the Metropolitan Opera and sang in Chicago during the 1920 21 season In 1922 and 1923 he served as the principal tenor of the Teatro Costanzi in Rome and conducted master classes across the United States the following year After 1925 Bonci entered into partial retirement devoting himself primarily to teaching in Milan He still sang occasionally in public as late as 1935 He died in Viserba Rimini in 1940 at the age of 70 1 Recordings editBonci s artistry was captured on disc by the Fonotipia Edison and Columbia companies His first recordings were made in 1905 and his last in 1926 with a handful produced between these dates in 1913 He is heard to best advantage in operatic arias by Bellini Rossini Donizetti and Gluck but he was also renowned in Europe and the United States for his Rodolfo in Puccini s La boheme his Riccardo in Verdi s Un ballo in maschera and his Duke of Mantua in Verdi s Rigoletto Voice editBonci was a demure man and his voice was not overly large It was sweet toned stylish and supple with excellent high notes and an easy high C He sang with what at the time would have been considered a standard vibrato though later generations until our own preferred a slower one References editDavid Ewen Encyclopedia of the Opera New Enlarged Edition New York Hill and Wang 1963 Michael Scott The Record of Singing London Duckworth 1977 J B Steane The Grand Tradition London Duckworth 1974 Harold Rosenthal and John Warrack The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera Second Edition Oxford University Press 1980 Specific Alessandro Bonci Lyric Tenor Dies Singer Known For His Perfect Technique First Heard Here In 1906 Had One Teacher Compared With Caruso Joined Metropolitan in 1908 After Popularity Had Made Him Center of Opera War The New York Times August 11 1940 External links editWorks by Alessandro Bonci at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Alessandro Bonci at Internet Archive History of the Tenor Sound Clips and Narration preserved recordings of Alessandro Bonci at Internet Archive Salut Faust 1918 Lusia Miller 1918 Lucia di Lammermoor 1913 Alessandro Bonci cylinder recordings from the UCSB Cylinder Audio Archive at the University of California Santa Barbara Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alessandro Bonci amp oldid 1191662052, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
