fbpx
Wikipedia

Eugenia Burzio

January 01, 1970

Eugenia Burzio (20 June 1882 – 16 May 1922) was an Italian operatic dramatic soprano known for her vibrant voice and passionate style of singing. She was particularly prominent in the verismo repertoire, creating the role of Delia Terzaghi in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Goffredo Mameli as well as singing Minnie in the Italian premiere of Giacomo Puccini's La fanciulla del West but was also admired in Verdi and other 19th century repertoire. While many music critics found her interpretations imaginative and exciting, others criticized her for the unevenness of her voice and other technical shortcomings.

Eugenia Burzio

Career edit

Burzio was born in Poirino, Piedmont. Initially, she pursued a career as a violinist but decided instead to concentrate on opera singing whilst a teenager, stating she was born in 1879 in order to study voice at the Milan Conservatory with Carolina Ferni who herself had studied with Giuditta Pasta. She made her professional début as Santuzza, in Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana, at the Teatro Vittorio Emmanuel, Turin in 1899.

She went on to enjoy a highly successful career throughout her homeland as a lyric-dramatic soprano, although her ardent, larger-than-life mode of vocalism was not calculated to appeal to the taste of more conservative British and American audiences and she never sang at Covent Garden or the Metropolitan Opera. This has limited the scope of her international reputation. However she had huge successes in South America, Egypt and Russia—at St Petersburg's Aquarium Theatre.

Burzio was a magnetic actress and she became particularly associated with the music of the verismo school of composers, exemplified by Mascagni, Catalani, Leoncavallo, Umberto Giordano and, to a certain extent, Puccini. She was a star performer with a fanatical following at Italy's pre-eminent opera house, La Scala, Milan, during the first two decades of the 20th century. There Burzio appeared in a wide repertoire, often under the baton of Toscanini, her roles including Gluck’s Armide, Bellini’s Norma, Alfano's Risurrezione, Franchetti's La Figlio di Jorio, Pacini's Saffo, Catalani's La Wally and Loreley, Aida, La Gioconda, and Cavalleria Rusticana.

 

In addition, Burzio cut a number of frequently gripping 78-rpm gramophone recordings in Milan between 1905 and 1916. Towards the end of her career, however, she suffered from a nervous disorder and general ill-health. She made her final stage appearance in 1919, in Ponchielli’s Marion Delorme. Burzio died at Milan, three years later, aged 40, of kidney failure. She is buried in the family tomb in Chieri, Piedmont.

In a newspaper interview Burzio stated "A verismo role is bound to produce a melodramatic performance and artificial elation, and it's artificial because it isn't always a musical approach and when you are young, you don't know the correct approach. This can lead to strain on the nervous system. Nervous exhaustion is more damaging to the voice than the difficulty or length of the role". (The Levik memoirs, page 117)

Recordings on CD edit

  • Eugenia Burzio: Verismo Soprano Complete Recorded Operatic Repertoire (Fonotipia, Milano, 1905–1910; Columbia, Pathé and Phonodisc Mondial, Milano, 1912–1916) Label: Marston Records 52020.
  • "Eugenia Burzio:The great dramatic soprano". Renowned producer Keith Hardwick's selection of arias and speeds. Pearl Gemm 9269.
  • "The Harold Wayne Collection, Volume 37, Eugenia Burzio, Emma Carelli, Ester Mazzoleni", Symposium 1244.
  • "Eugenia Burzio": Legendary voices Preiser PR89723. 2009
  • "Eugenia Burzio": 2-CD set Club 99 CL587/88.

References edit

  • H.F.V.L Review of 'Me pellegrina' and 'Madre pietosa Vergine' Gramophone Magazine June 1939
  • Hurst, P.G. "The Golden Age Recorded" Gibbs and Damworth. 1946.
  • Celletti, Rodolfo Le grandi voci: Istituto per la collaborazione culturale, 1964
  • Steane, John "The Grand Tradition: Seventy Years of Singing on Record", Scribner (New York, NY), 1974
  • Gara, Eugene "La Scala" Electa Milano 1975.
  • Scott, Michael, The Record of Singing, published by Duckworth, London, in two volumes, 1977/79.
  • Lebow, Ellen A, Liner notes for Club 99 2-LP set 'Eugenia Burzio' CL 87/88.
  • Various authors, "Eugenia Burzio, tra romaticismo e verismo" Chieri and Poirino 1982.
  • Rasponi, Lanfranco "The last of the Prima Donnas" Ester Mazzoleni interview.Victor Gollanz, 1984.
  • Evans, Allan Liner notes for Club 99-CD set.
  • Celletti, Rodolfo,"Grandi voci alla Scala". Teatro La Scala.1991.
  • Steane, John Review of Club 99-CD set Gramophone Magazine January 1991: Page 86
  • Various authors, "Eugenia Burzio Un secolo dopo l'esordio (1899–1999), Comune di Poirino, Citta di Chieri,1999.
  • Ashbrook, William (1999) , Eugenia Burzio: Verismo Soprano, Marston Records 52020.
  • Bruder, Harold "Review of Eugenia Burzio, Marston." Opera Quarterly. Summer2000, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p491
  • Green, London "Waxing Poetic". Opera Quarterly; Autumn2000, Vol. 16 Issue 4, p571.
  • Rideout, Bob "Eugenia Burzio", 'The Record Collector' Volume 46 no.3 September 2001.
  • Aspinall, Michael "The Burzio records" 'The Record Collector' As above.
  • Banuelas, Roberto "Eugenia Burzio" El Buho Num 22 Sept 2001 Mexico.
  • Williams, John and "Eugenia Burzio" liner notes for Pearl CD.
  • "Artisti poirinese del passato", chapter "Eugenia Burzio, una voce da scoprire" Comune di Poirino.2005.
  • Steane, J.B.: "Eugenia Burzio", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed October 18, 2008), (subscription access) 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
  • Levik, Sergei "The Levik memoirs" Translated by Edward Morgan, Symposium Records. With quotes from Burzio.
  • Liff, Vivian "Burzio, Mazzoleni, Carelli" American Record Guide; Mar/Apr2010, Vol. 73 Issue 2, p249
  • Tosco, Angelo "Vissi d 'arte me pellegrini – Trionfi e amori di Eugenia Burzio" Gaidano & Matta. Chieri,2012. with many rare photographs and documents from the recently revealed 'Burzio archive'.

External links edit

Biography

Audio files

January 01, 1970
eugenia, burzio, june, 1882, 1922, italian, operatic, dramatic, soprano, known, vibrant, voice, passionate, style, singing, particularly, prominent, verismo, repertoire, creating, role, delia, terzaghi, ruggero, leoncavallo, goffredo, mameli, well, singing, mi. Eugenia Burzio 20 June 1882 16 May 1922 was an Italian operatic dramatic soprano known for her vibrant voice and passionate style of singing She was particularly prominent in the verismo repertoire creating the role of Delia Terzaghi in Ruggero Leoncavallo s Goffredo Mameli as well as singing Minnie in the Italian premiere of Giacomo Puccini s La fanciulla del West but was also admired in Verdi and other 19th century repertoire While many music critics found her interpretations imaginative and exciting others criticized her for the unevenness of her voice and other technical shortcomings Eugenia Burzio Contents 1 Career 2 Recordings on CD 3 References 4 External linksCareer editBurzio was born in Poirino Piedmont Initially she pursued a career as a violinist but decided instead to concentrate on opera singing whilst a teenager stating she was born in 1879 in order to study voice at the Milan Conservatory with Carolina Ferni who herself had studied with Giuditta Pasta She made her professional debut as Santuzza in Pietro Mascagni s Cavalleria rusticana at the Teatro Vittorio Emmanuel Turin in 1899 She went on to enjoy a highly successful career throughout her homeland as a lyric dramatic soprano although her ardent larger than life mode of vocalism was not calculated to appeal to the taste of more conservative British and American audiences and she never sang at Covent Garden or the Metropolitan Opera This has limited the scope of her international reputation However she had huge successes in South America Egypt and Russia at St Petersburg s Aquarium Theatre Burzio was a magnetic actress and she became particularly associated with the music of the verismo school of composers exemplified by Mascagni Catalani Leoncavallo Umberto Giordano and to a certain extent Puccini She was a star performer with a fanatical following at Italy s pre eminent opera house La Scala Milan during the first two decades of the 20th century There Burzio appeared in a wide repertoire often under the baton of Toscanini her roles including Gluck s Armide Bellini s Norma Alfano s Risurrezione Franchetti s La Figlio di Jorio Pacini s Saffo Catalani s La Wally and Loreley Aida La Gioconda and Cavalleria Rusticana nbsp In addition Burzio cut a number of frequently gripping 78 rpm gramophone recordings in Milan between 1905 and 1916 Towards the end of her career however she suffered from a nervous disorder and general ill health She made her final stage appearance in 1919 in Ponchielli s Marion Delorme Burzio died at Milan three years later aged 40 of kidney failure She is buried in the family tomb in Chieri Piedmont In a newspaper interview Burzio stated A verismo role is bound to produce a melodramatic performance and artificial elation and it s artificial because it isn t always a musical approach and when you are young you don t know the correct approach This can lead to strain on the nervous system Nervous exhaustion is more damaging to the voice than the difficulty or length of the role The Levik memoirs page 117 Recordings on CD editEugenia Burzio Verismo Soprano Complete Recorded Operatic Repertoire Fonotipia Milano 1905 1910 Columbia Pathe and Phonodisc Mondial Milano 1912 1916 Label Marston Records 52020 Eugenia Burzio The great dramatic soprano Renowned producer Keith Hardwick s selection of arias and speeds Pearl Gemm 9269 The Harold Wayne Collection Volume 37 Eugenia Burzio Emma Carelli Ester Mazzoleni Symposium 1244 Eugenia Burzio Legendary voices Preiser PR89723 2009 Eugenia Burzio 2 CD set Club 99 CL587 88 References editH F V L Review of Me pellegrina and Madre pietosa Vergine Gramophone Magazine June 1939 Hurst P G The Golden Age Recorded Gibbs and Damworth 1946 Celletti Rodolfo Le grandi voci Istituto per la collaborazione culturale 1964 Steane John The Grand Tradition Seventy Years of Singing on Record Scribner New York NY 1974 Gara Eugene La Scala Electa Milano 1975 Scott Michael The Record of Singing published by Duckworth London in two volumes 1977 79 Lebow Ellen A Liner notes for Club 99 2 LP set Eugenia Burzio CL 87 88 Various authors Eugenia Burzio tra romaticismo e verismo Chieri and Poirino 1982 Rasponi Lanfranco The last of the Prima Donnas Ester Mazzoleni interview Victor Gollanz 1984 Evans Allan Liner notes for Club 99 CD set Celletti Rodolfo Grandi voci alla Scala Teatro La Scala 1991 Steane John Review of Club 99 CD set Gramophone Magazine January 1991 Page 86 Various authors Eugenia Burzio Un secolo dopo l esordio 1899 1999 Comune di Poirino Citta di Chieri 1999 Ashbrook William 1999 Liner Notes Eugenia Burzio Verismo Soprano Marston Records 52020 Bruder Harold Review of Eugenia Burzio Marston Opera Quarterly Summer2000 Vol 16 Issue 3 p491 Green London Waxing Poetic Opera Quarterly Autumn2000 Vol 16 Issue 4 p571 Rideout Bob Eugenia Burzio The Record Collector Volume 46 no 3 September 2001 Aspinall Michael The Burzio records The Record Collector As above Banuelas Roberto Eugenia Burzio El Buho Num 22 Sept 2001 Mexico Williams John and Eugenia Burzio liner notes for Pearl CD Artisti poirinese del passato chapter Eugenia Burzio una voce da scoprire Comune di Poirino 2005 Steane J B Eugenia Burzio Grove Music Online ed L Macy Accessed October 18 2008 subscription access Archived 2008 05 16 at the Wayback Machine Levik Sergei The Levik memoirs Translated by Edward Morgan Symposium Records With quotes from Burzio Liff Vivian Burzio Mazzoleni Carelli American Record Guide Mar Apr2010 Vol 73 Issue 2 p249 Tosco Angelo Vissi d arte me pellegrini Trionfi e amori di Eugenia Burzio Gaidano amp Matta Chieri 2012 with many rare photographs and documents from the recently revealed Burzio archive External links editBiography Eugenia Burzio Facebook page with many photographs and articles https www facebook com pages Eugenia Burzio 228959903950 Audio files Eugenia Burzio Spunta l aurora pallida on YouTube from Boito s Mefistofele recorded 1910 Eugenia Burzio Voi lo sapete o mamma on YouTube from Mascagni s Cavalleria rusticana recorded 1908 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eugenia Burzio amp oldid 1144265672, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.