Dusolina Giannini
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Dusolina Giannini (December 19, 1902 – June 29, 1986) was an Italian-American soprano, particularly associated with the Italian repertory.
Biography
Born into a musical family in Philadelphia, Giannini was the daughter of Italian tenor Ferruccio Giannini (1868-1948), who came to the United States in 1885, and with whom she first studied, later studying with Marcella Sembrich in New York. She began in concert in 1923, in New York, also appearing in England.[1] She made her stage debut in Hamburg, as Aida and Santuzza, later appearing in Berlin, Vienna, London. She sang at the Salzburg Festival in 1934, as Donna Anna and Alice Ford, and made her debut at the Paris Opéra in 1936, as Donna Anna. In 1938, she created, in Hamburg, the role of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter, an opera composed by her brother Vittorio Giannini (1903-1966).
She sang at the Metropolitan Opera from 1935 to 1942, also appearing at the Chicago City Opera Company (1938–42) and the San Francisco Opera (1939–43). She also took part in the first season of the New York City Opera in 1943, as Tosca. After the war, she continued appearing in Paris, London, Berlin, and Vienna, and then turned to teaching, notably in Zurich.
Giannini's voice was a true dramatic soprano, backed by strong temperament and fine musicianship. She can be heard on a complete recording of Aida from 1928, opposite Aureliano Pertile.
Giannini's sister, Eufemia Giannini-Gregory, was a respected voice teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and taught Frank Guarrera, Judith Blegen and Anna Moffo.
Giannini died, aged 83, in Zurich.
References
- ^ "MUSIC AND DRAMA.: Dusolina Giannini". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 27, 085. New South Wales, Australia. 25 October 1924. p. 12. Retrieved 24 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
Sources
- Le Guide de l'opéra, les indispensables de la musique, R. Mancini & J.J. Rouvereux, (Fayard, 1986), ISBN 2-213-01563-5
- Grove Music Online, Max de Schauensee, Oxford Press University, April 2008.
- Dusolina Giannini : [concert program], 1929, 1929, retrieved 24 August 2017
- Postcard: Dusolina Giannini - Desdemona : TOWN HALL, SYDNEY. / Direction: E.J. Gravestock, retrieved 24 August 2017
- Rasponi, Lanfranco (1979-12-15), "Con principio: Dusolina Giannini. (biography of American opera singer)", Opera News, v44, Metropolitan Opera Guild, Inc: 8 (4), ISSN 0030-3607
- 1902 births
- 1986 deaths
- American operatic sopranos
- Musicians from Philadelphia
- American people of Italian descent
- American expatriates in Switzerland
- American sopranos
- 20th-century American opera singers
- 20th-century women opera singers
- Singers from Pennsylvania
- 20th-century American women singers
- Classical musicians from Pennsylvania