Francesco Merli La Gioconda Cielo e mar Columbia GQX 10185 eregistré le 31 mars 1928
0Francesco Merli - La Gioconda - Cielo e mar - Columbia GQX 10185 eregistré le 31 mars 1928
Francesco Merli (January 27, 1887, Corsico (Milan) - December 12, 1976, Milan) was an Italian opera singer, particularly associated with heavy roles such as Otello, Canio and Calaf. He ranks as one of the finest dramatic tenors of the inter-war period.
Merli studied in Milan, with Carlo Negrini and Adelaide Borghi. In 1914, he won second prize at a singing competition in Parma, being edged out of first place by the great Beniamino Gigli. He made his debut at La Scala, Milan, in 1916, as Alvaro in Spontini 's Fernand Cortez.
Merli would sing widely in Italy and South America during the next decade, and also toured Australia in 1928 with an opera company composed of leading La Scala singers. He appeared regularly in London at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from 1926 to 1930, where, among other things, he was the first Calaf (Turandot) to be heard in Great Britain. He made his Paris debut at the Palais Garnier in 1935, as Pollione in Norma. His only season at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City occurred in 1932. He made his debut at the Met on March 2 of that year, as Radames in Aida; but his performances there were not deemed a success due to the effects of poor health. Thereafter, La Scala became his operatic base and his career tailed off during World War II .
Merli was renowned for his vocal strength, penetrating tone and incisive diction. These qualities enabled him to tackle a wide operatic repertory, ranging from bel canto works through verismo roles to heroic parts such as Verdi's Otello. Other famous operas that he appeared in included, among others, Guglielmo Tell, Il pirata, Il trovatore, La forza del destino, Andrea Chénier, Manon Lescaut and Pagliacci.
His portrayal of Otello became world famous, as was his interpretation of Calaf in Puccini 's Turandot. In 1938, he participated in a complete recording of the latter work, together with Gina Cigna and Magda Olivero. He also made numerous recordings of opera arias. These recordings, like the complete Turandot, have been re-issued on CD.
Merli also created the title role in Respighi 's Belfagor in 1923 but recorded none of its music for posterity.
He retired from the stage in 1948 and died aged 89, in Milan.
Source: Wikipedia