Nicola Rescigno: Difference between revisions
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In 1953, Rescigno co-founded the Lyric Opera of Chicago with singer [[Carol Fox]] and businessman [[Lawrence V. Kelly]], serving as the company's artistic director and principal conductor from 1954 to 1956. For the company's inaugral performance he conducted [[Maria Callas]] in her American debut in the title role of [[Vincenzo Bellini|Bellini]]'s ''[[Norma (opera)|Norma]]''. He went on to collaborate with the famous soprano several more times including conducting her only stage appearances as Cio-Cio-San (Chicago, 1955), her 1959 [[Carnegie Hall]] concert of ''[[Il Pirata]]'', and several opera appearances in Dallas.<ref name="opera"/> |
In 1953, Rescigno co-founded the Lyric Opera of Chicago with singer [[Carol Fox]] and businessman [[Lawrence V. Kelly]], serving as the company's artistic director and principal conductor from 1954 to 1956. For the company's inaugral performance he conducted [[Maria Callas]] in her American debut in the title role of [[Vincenzo Bellini|Bellini]]'s ''[[Norma (opera)|Norma]]''. He went on to collaborate with the famous soprano several more times including conducting her only stage appearances as Cio-Cio-San (Chicago, 1955), her 1959 [[Carnegie Hall]] concert of ''[[Il Pirata]]'', and several opera appearances in Dallas.<ref name="opera"/> |
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In 1957, Rescigno co-founded the [[Dallas Opera]] with Kelly after the two left Chicago following a dispute with the Lyric board. He served as artistic director and principal conductor of the Dallas Opera from 1957 to 1990. While there he conducted the U.S. debuts of such singers as [[Teresa Berganza]], [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[Plácido Domingo]], [[Gwyneth Jones]], [[Magda Olivero]], Dame [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Jon Vickers]], and stage director [[Franco Zeffirelli]]. He presented there the American premieres of [[Handel]]'s ''[[Alcina]]'' and [[Vivaldi]]'s ''[[Orlando furioso (Vivaldi)|Orlando furioso]]'', the latter of which was the first Vivaldi opera to ever be mounted in the United States. He also conducted the world premieres of [[Virgil Thomson]]'s ''Fantasy in Homage to an Earlier England'' (1966) and [[Dominick Argento]]'s ''The Aspern Papers'' (1988).<ref name="opera"/> |
In 1957, Rescigno co-founded the [[Dallas Opera]] with Kelly after the two left Chicago following a dispute with the Lyric board. He served as artistic director and principal conductor of the Dallas Opera from 1957 to 1990. While there he conducted the U.S. debuts of such singers as [[Teresa Berganza]], [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[Plácido Domingo]], [[Gwyneth Jones]], [[Magda Olivero]], Dame [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Jon Vickers]], and stage director [[Franco Zeffirelli]]. He presented there the American premieres of [[Handel]]'s ''[[Alcina]]'' and [[Vivaldi]]'s ''[[Orlando furioso (Vivaldi)|Orlando furioso]]'', the latter of which starred [[Marilyn Horne]] and was the first Vivaldi opera to ever be mounted in the United States. He also conducted the world premieres of [[Virgil Thomson]]'s ''Fantasy in Homage to an Earlier England'' (1966) and [[Dominick Argento]]'s ''The Aspern Papers'' (1988).<ref name="opera"/> |
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He made his debut at the [[Metropolitan Opera]] in 1978, conducting ''[[Don Pasquale]]'' (with [[Beverly Sills]], in [[John Dexter]]'s production), followed by ''L'elisir d'amore'' (1980), ''L'italiana in Algeri'' (with [[Marilyn Horne]] and [[Rockwell Blake]], [[1981]]), and ''La traviata'' (1981-1982) |
He made his debut at the [[Metropolitan Opera]] in 1978, conducting ''[[Don Pasquale]]'' (with [[Beverly Sills]], in [[John Dexter]]'s production), followed by ''L'elisir d'amore'' (1980), ''L'italiana in Algeri'' (with [[Marilyn Horne]] and [[Rockwell Blake]], [[1981]]), and ''La traviata'' (1981-1982). He conducted at most of the major opera houses of Italy, and made guest appearances at [[Glyndebourne Festival Opera]], [[Royal Opera, London|Royal Opera]] at [[Covent Garden]], [[Opéra National de Paris]], [[Vienna State Opera]], [[Zurich Opera]], and the [[Teatro Colón]] among other theaters. |
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His close association with Maria Callas, having been one of her favourite conductors, resulted in several album recordings of operatic arias made for [[EMI]], from 1958 to 1969. He also recorded an album of Verdi arias with [[Robert Weede]] (in 1953), excerpts from ''Francesca da Rimini'' (with [[Mario del Monaco]] and Magda Olivero, 1969), and complete sets of ''Tosca'' (with [[Mirella Freni]], 1978) and ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' (with [[Edita Gruberova]], 1983). Also available, on DVD, are a 1959 concert from [[Hamburg]] with Callas, and a 1981 performance of ''L'elisir d'amore'' from the Met, with [[Judith Blegen]] and [[Luciano Pavarotti]]. |
His close association with Maria Callas, having been one of her favourite conductors, resulted in several album recordings of operatic arias made for [[EMI]], from 1958 to 1969. He also recorded an album of Verdi arias with [[Robert Weede]] (in 1953), excerpts from ''Francesca da Rimini'' (with [[Mario del Monaco]] and Magda Olivero, 1969), and complete sets of ''Tosca'' (with [[Mirella Freni]], 1978) and ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' (with [[Edita Gruberova]], 1983). Also available, on DVD, are a 1959 concert from [[Hamburg]] with Callas, and a 1981 performance of ''L'elisir d'amore'' from the Met, with [[Judith Blegen]] and [[Luciano Pavarotti]]. |
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Revision as of 18:44, 19 June 2009
Nicola Rescigno (May 28, 1916 - August 4, 2008) was an Italian-American conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory. Opera News said that "Rescigno was a seminal figure in the history of opera in America, a maestro and mentor who shaped the destiny and reputation of two major U.S. companies — Lyric Opera of Chicago and Dallas Opera — as well as countless singing and conducting careers. Vigorous musical integrity, idiomatic style and unfailing support of his singers were the hallmarks of his performances throughout his distinguished career, which lasted more than fifty years."[1]
Biography
Born into a musical family in New York City, he studied with Pizzetti, Giannini and Polacco. He made his debut in 1943, conducting La traviata, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for Alfredo Salmaggi's opera company. He then toured the United States with the San Carlo Opera Company and served as music director for the Connecticut Opera and Havana Opera. He made his conducting debut with the San Francisco Opera in 1950 conducting Lily Pons in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Dorothy Kirsten in Madama Butterfly.[1]
In 1953, Rescigno co-founded the Lyric Opera of Chicago with singer Carol Fox and businessman Lawrence V. Kelly, serving as the company's artistic director and principal conductor from 1954 to 1956. For the company's inaugral performance he conducted Maria Callas in her American debut in the title role of Bellini's Norma. He went on to collaborate with the famous soprano several more times including conducting her only stage appearances as Cio-Cio-San (Chicago, 1955), her 1959 Carnegie Hall concert of Il Pirata, and several opera appearances in Dallas.[1]
In 1957, Rescigno co-founded the Dallas Opera with Kelly after the two left Chicago following a dispute with the Lyric board. He served as artistic director and principal conductor of the Dallas Opera from 1957 to 1990. While there he conducted the U.S. debuts of such singers as Teresa Berganza, Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Gwyneth Jones, Magda Olivero, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, and stage director Franco Zeffirelli. He presented there the American premieres of Handel's Alcina and Vivaldi's Orlando furioso, the latter of which starred Marilyn Horne and was the first Vivaldi opera to ever be mounted in the United States. He also conducted the world premieres of Virgil Thomson's Fantasy in Homage to an Earlier England (1966) and Dominick Argento's The Aspern Papers (1988).[1]
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1978, conducting Don Pasquale (with Beverly Sills, in John Dexter's production), followed by L'elisir d'amore (1980), L'italiana in Algeri (with Marilyn Horne and Rockwell Blake, 1981), and La traviata (1981-1982). He conducted at most of the major opera houses of Italy, and made guest appearances at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Royal Opera at Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, Vienna State Opera, Zurich Opera, and the Teatro Colón among other theaters.
His close association with Maria Callas, having been one of her favourite conductors, resulted in several album recordings of operatic arias made for EMI, from 1958 to 1969. He also recorded an album of Verdi arias with Robert Weede (in 1953), excerpts from Francesca da Rimini (with Mario del Monaco and Magda Olivero, 1969), and complete sets of Tosca (with Mirella Freni, 1978) and Lucia di Lammermoor (with Edita Gruberova, 1983). Also available, on DVD, are a 1959 concert from Hamburg with Callas, and a 1981 performance of L'elisir d'amore from the Met, with Judith Blegen and Luciano Pavarotti.
He was the uncle of the conductor Joseph Rescigno.
He died at the age of 92 in a hospital in Viterbo, Italy, while awaiting surgery on his broken femur.[2]
Source
- Grove Music Online, Cori Ellison, June 2008.
References
- ^ a b c d "Obituaries: Conductor Nicola Rescigno dies at ninety-two; singers Eula Beal and John van Kesteren; composer Norman Dello Joio; impresario Alan Stone". Opera News. October 2008, vol 73, no. 4. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Nicola Rescigno, Who Helped Found Opera Companies in Chicago and Dallas, Dies at 92". The New York Times.