Umberto Giordano

Italian Type-setter born with Foggia the August 28th 1867 and dead the November 12th 1948 with Milan.

Biography

His/her father follows the occupation of chemist and wishes that his/her son follow the same way that him but the child is attracted by the music. To the great despair of his parents, it enters to the academy of Naples (1881-1891) where he is the pupil of Gaetano Briganto and Paolo Serrao (composition). Its first work played in public is Delizia , Symphonic poem (1886).

It composes its first opera, Marina , for a contest created by the editor Eduardo Sonzogno. but it is classified sixth, the opera of Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana which gains the first price. Sonzogno requires of him to compose, Mala vita , opera in three acts whose first place with Rome has on February 21st, 1892 but work is regarded as scandalous in Italy because it describes the life of a Neapolitan prostitute (" Mala vita" mean " the life misérable"). In Austria and Germany, it obtains a certain popularity. It takes again this opera and under the title of It represents it Voto in Milan (1877). Then, he writes an opera in 2 acts Regina Diaz which is represented on February 21st, 1894 with Rome with a moderate success.

He composes, undoubtedly, his best opera, Andrea Chenier , in 1894 on a booklet of Luigi Illica. First takes place with the Scala on March 28th, 1896 and is a very great success. The opera is played in Europe like with New York (Academy of music and with the Metropolitan Opera on March 7th, 1920). With this opera, he, finally, is recognized like one of the largest type-setters of the Italian modern opera. Its title role is, very often, the starting point of many careers of tenors.

In 1898, it composes for the large actress and singer Gemma Bellincioni Fedora on a booklet of Arturo Colautti according to the drama of Victorien Sardou which, although not reaching the popularity of sound André Chénier can, nevertheless, being considered as its second greater success. It is represented with Milan on November 17th, 1898 and reveals the tenor Caruso like with the Metropolitan Opera on November 5th, 1906.

He writes, also, another opera entitled Siberia in three acts (Scala, December 19th, 1903; Opera of Paris, 1911; revised in 1921 and again on scene on December 5th, 1927). It continues its compositions by writing two operas in an act: Marcella (Milan, February 9th, 1907) and Mass Mariano (Milan, March 17th, 1910) which seems to mark the decline of the dramatic talent which characterizes this type-setter.

He attracts, again, the attention of the public with his Op3era Comique: Mrs Sans-Gêne on a booklet of Renato Simoni according to a comedy of Victorien Sardou whose creation is carried out during one gala evening in Metropolitan Opera the January 25th 1915 under the direction of Toscanini with Geraldine Farrar in the role titrates.

In collaboration with Franchetti, he writes Giove has Pompei (Rome, July 5th, 1921) and, composes then Cene delle beffe , a lyric news in four acts (Scala of Milan, December 20th, 1924 and recovery in Metropolitan Opera on January 2nd, 1926). Its last composition is It Re an opera in an act (Scala, January 10th, 1929).

One owes him, also, a ballet Astro magico , parts for piano, of the melodies and a symphonic work Piedigretto . He is elected member of the Academy Luigi Cherubini of Florence and several other institutions.

He is one of the type-setter most representative of the Vérisme.

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