Josephine Lucchese (July 24, 1893 – September 10, 1974) was an American operatic soprano who had an active international singing career during the 1920s and 1930s. A skilled coloratura soprano, she was particularly admired for her portrayals of Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Violetta in La traviata, and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor. She began her opera career in 1920 with the San Carlo Opera Company; a touring opera company in the United States. She was a resident artist with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company from 1929 to 1932, and was a principal artist with the Dutch National Opera during the 1930s. She also appeared as a guest artist with American and European opera houses during her career.
Josephine Lucchese was born on July 24, 1893, in San Antonio, Texas.[1] Her father, Sam Lucchese, was an Italian-born immigrant who founded the Lucchese Boot Company.[2][3] In her youth she learned how to play the mandolin and the piano, and studied singing with Virginia Colombati.[1] She was educated at the Main Avenue High School in San Antonio.[4]
In 1925 Lucchese performed Violetta to Dimitrie Onofrei [ro]'s Alfredo at the Academy of Music in the first performance of the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company.[10] In 1926 she made her debut with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company (PGOC) as Gilda to Millo Picco's [Wikidata] Rigoletto. She later became a resident artist with the PGOC from 1929 until the company's bankruptcy in 1932, performing such roles as Konstanze in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Leïla in Les pêcheurs de perles, Rosina, Violetta, and the title role in Lakmé among others.[11] In 1933 she appeared in concert performances of Rigoletto and La traviata with the Philadelphia Orchestra before once again becoming a member of the San Carlo Opera Company. In 1939 she was a principal artist with Vito Parisi's Imperial Grand Opera Company.[12]
Lucchese gave her first performance outside of the United States at the National Theatre of Cuba in Havana, Cuba as Ophelia in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet in 1923.[13] She sang in another Thomas opera for her first performances in Europe; appearing as Philine in Mignon in a tour of German cities in 1927–1928.[13] During the 1930s she was a resident artist with the Dutch National Opera and appeared as a guest artist at several opera houses in the Netherlands.[13] She also appeared in opera houses in Berlin, Hamburg, and Prague.[1] She became known as 'The American Nightingale' in Europe.[14]
From 1956 to 1971, Lucchese taught singing at the University of Texas.[18] One of her notable pupils was tenor Bruce Brewer.[19]
Personal lifeedit
Lucchese was married twice: first to Adolfo Caruso, followed by Florentine Donato.[1]
Deathedit
She died on September 10, 1974, in her home town of San Antonio, Texas.
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgMcArthur, Judith N. (June 15, 2010). "Lucchese, Josephine". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved July 14, 2015. (modified on October 26, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
josephine, lucchese, july, 1893, september, 1974, american, operatic, soprano, active, international, singing, career, during, 1920s, 1930s, skilled, coloratura, soprano, particularly, admired, portrayals, rosina, barber, seville, violetta, traviata, title, ro. Josephine Lucchese July 24 1893 September 10 1974 was an American operatic soprano who had an active international singing career during the 1920s and 1930s A skilled coloratura soprano she was particularly admired for her portrayals of Rosina in The Barber of Seville Violetta in La traviata and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor She began her opera career in 1920 with the San Carlo Opera Company a touring opera company in the United States She was a resident artist with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company from 1929 to 1932 and was a principal artist with the Dutch National Opera during the 1930s She also appeared as a guest artist with American and European opera houses during her career Josephine LuccheseLucchese as Gilda in Rigoletto in 1922Born 1893 07 24 July 24 1893San Antonio TexasDiedSeptember 10 1974 1974 09 10 aged 81 San Antonio TexasResting placeSaint Mary s CemeteryEducationMain Avenue High SchoolOccupationOpera singerSpousesAdolfo Caruso Florentine DonatoParent s Sam LuccheseFrances Battaglia Josephine Lucchese from a 1922 publication Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editJosephine Lucchese was born on July 24 1893 in San Antonio Texas 1 Her father Sam Lucchese was an Italian born immigrant who founded the Lucchese Boot Company 2 3 In her youth she learned how to play the mandolin and the piano and studied singing with Virginia Colombati 1 She was educated at the Main Avenue High School in San Antonio 4 Career editAt the age of 18 Lucchese traveled with Colombati to New York City to pursue further studies in music with Yeatman Griffith 1 5 She made her professional singing debut soon after at Aeolian Hall in Manhattan on November 26 1919 giving a recital of art songs and arias including pieces from The Magic Flute La sonnambula and Felicien David s La perle du Bresil 6 A year later on September 22 1920 she made her professional opera debut as Olympia in Jacques Offenbach s The Tales of Hoffmann with Fortune Gallo s touring San Carlo Opera Company at the Manhattan Opera House 1 5 She remained under contract with that company for the next five years performing across the United States and Canada in such roles as Gilda in Rigoletto 7 Lady Harriet Durham in Martha Micaela in Carmen Rosina in The Barber of Seville Violetta in La traviata 8 and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor 9 In 1925 Lucchese performed Violetta to Dimitrie Onofrei ro s Alfredo at the Academy of Music in the first performance of the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company 10 In 1926 she made her debut with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company PGOC as Gilda to Millo Picco s Wikidata Rigoletto She later became a resident artist with the PGOC from 1929 until the company s bankruptcy in 1932 performing such roles as Konstanze in The Abduction from the Seraglio Leila in Les pecheurs de perles Rosina Violetta and the title role in Lakme among others 11 In 1933 she appeared in concert performances of Rigoletto and La traviata with the Philadelphia Orchestra before once again becoming a member of the San Carlo Opera Company In 1939 she was a principal artist with Vito Parisi s Imperial Grand Opera Company 12 Lucchese gave her first performance outside of the United States at the National Theatre of Cuba in Havana Cuba as Ophelia in Ambroise Thomas s Hamlet in 1923 13 She sang in another Thomas opera for her first performances in Europe appearing as Philine in Mignon in a tour of German cities in 1927 1928 13 During the 1930s she was a resident artist with the Dutch National Opera and appeared as a guest artist at several opera houses in the Netherlands 13 She also appeared in opera houses in Berlin Hamburg and Prague 1 She became known as The American Nightingale in Europe 14 Lucchese appeared as a guest artist in opera performances in several American cities during her career including appearances at the Detroit Opera House and the Cincinnati Opera 15 16 Other roles she performed on stage during her career include Norina in Don Pasquale and Mimi in Puccini s La boheme 13 Her notable stage partners included Tito Schipa and Giovanni Martinelli 1 She also sang in concerts with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra 17 From 1956 to 1971 Lucchese taught singing at the University of Texas 18 One of her notable pupils was tenor Bruce Brewer 19 Personal life editLucchese was married twice first to Adolfo Caruso followed by Florentine Donato 1 Death editShe died on September 10 1974 in her home town of San Antonio Texas References edit a b c d e f g McArthur Judith N June 15 2010 Lucchese Josephine Handbook of Texas Online Retrieved July 14 2015 modified on October 26 2011 Published by the Texas State Historical Association Lucchese Boot Company Our history The Italian Texans San Antonio Texas Institute of Texan Cultures p 27 Yves Gerem A Marmac Guide to San Antonio Gretna Louisiana Pelican Publishing 2001 pp 165 166 a b Josephine Lucchese to Sing Coloratura Roles with Gallo Musical America June 25 1921 p 19 Josephine Lucchese Soprano Sings The New York Times November 27 1919 p 19 Gallo Opera To Open Soon The New York Times September 11 1921 p 69 Storms Delay MacMillan The New York Times October 1 1925 p 31 The Opera Forecast The New York Times October 9 1921 p 73 New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Folder Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company Free Library of Philadelphia Folder Philadelphia Grand Opera Company 1916 1934 miscellaneous Music Notes The New York Times August 19 1939 p 18 a b c d Lucchese Josephine Operissimo in German Retrieved April 4 2024 The University of Texas at San Antonio Digital Collections Theater poster of Josephine Lucchese opera singer Gladys H Kelsey November 23 1930 Detroit Sponsors Opera In A Big Way The New York Times Eldred A Thierstein 1995 Cincinnati Opera From the Zoo to Music Hall Deerstone Books pp 12 21 Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra To Appear In Resort Palm Beach Daily News January 20 1930 Frank and Linda Faulkner San Antonio Cemeteries Historic District Mount Pleasant South Carolina Arcadia Publishing 2014 p 64 David M Cummings 2000 International Who s who in Music and Musicians Dictionary Psychology Press ISBN 9780948875533 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josephine Lucchese Josephine Lucchese at Find a Grave Josephine Lucchese Discography of American Historical Recordings Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Josephine Lucchese amp oldid 1217145985, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
