Alessandro Polonini
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Polonini was an Italian bass-baritone
. He created the roles of Benoît and Alcindoro in Puccini's opera
, La bohème
, as well as Geronte de Ravoir in his Manon Lescaut
. Polonini also created the role of the surgeon in Verdi's La forza del destino
.
), Saint Petersburg
(Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre
), Buenos Aires
(Teatro Colón) and Montevideo
(Teatro Solis). In 1881, he sang at the Teatro Costanzi
in Rome
in the theatre's first performances of Rossini's The Barber of Seville
(Figaro), Bellini
's La sonnambula
(Count Rodolfo), and Verdi's La forza del destino (Fra Melitone). He returned there in 1894 for the Costanzi's first performance of Manon Lescaut (Geronte). Polonini appeared frequently at the Teatro Regio di Torino. In addition to his performances there in the world premieres of Manon Lescaut (1893) and La bohème (1896), he sang in the world premieres of two now forgotten Italian operas – Antonio Cagnoni
's Francesca da Rimimi (1878) and Gaetano Luporini's I dispetti amorosi (1894). Polonini was also Beckmesser in the Teatro Regio's first performance of Wagner
's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(1893).
's Il bravo, ossia La veneziana, (La Scala
, 1839) and Otto Nicolai's Il templario (Teatro Regio di Torino, 1840). He made his London debut in 1847 and for 21 years sang with the Royal Italian Opera
. In April 1855 he appeared there in Beethoven
's Fidelio
in the presence of Queen Victoria
and Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte
, as part of the French emperor's state visit to Britain. Entimio Polonini also performed in other cities in Britain and Ireland with impresario Thomas Willert Beale's touring opera company.
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
. He created the roles of Benoît and Alcindoro in Puccini's opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, La bohème
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
, as well as Geronte de Ravoir in his Manon Lescaut
Manon Lescaut (Puccini)
Manon Lescaut is an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini. The story is based on the 1731 novel L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost....
. Polonini also created the role of the surgeon in Verdi's La forza del destino
La forza del destino
La forza del destino is an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on a Spanish drama, Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino , by Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas, with a scene adapted from Friedrich Schiller's Wallensteins Lager. It was first performed...
.
Career
During his career Polonini sang throughout Italy, and also appeared in Barcelona (Gran Teatre del LiceuLiceu
The Gran Teatre del Liceu , or simply Liceu in Catalan and Liceo in Spanish, is an opera house on La Rambla in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain...
), Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
(Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre
Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre
The Saint Petersburg Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre was a theatre in Saint Petersburg.- History :It was built in 1783 to Antonio Rinaldi's Neoclassical design as the Kamenny Theatre. It was rebuilt in 1802 and renamed the Bolshoi, but burned down in 1811. The building was restored in 1818, and...
), Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
(Teatro Colón) and Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
(Teatro Solis). In 1881, he sang at the Teatro Costanzi
Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre, it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in the theatre's first performances of Rossini's The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's comedy Le Barbier de Séville , which was originally an opéra comique, or a mixture of spoken play with music...
(Figaro), Bellini
Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italian opera composer. His greatest works are I Capuleti ed i Montecchi , La sonnambula , Norma , Beatrice di Tenda , and I puritani...
's La sonnambula
La sonnambula
La sonnambula is an opera semiseria in two acts, with music in the bel canto tradition by Vincenzo Bellini to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani, based on a scenario for a ballet-pantomime by Eugène Scribe and Jean-Pierre Aumer called La somnambule, ou L'arrivée d'un nouveau seigneur.The first...
(Count Rodolfo), and Verdi's La forza del destino (Fra Melitone). He returned there in 1894 for the Costanzi's first performance of Manon Lescaut (Geronte). Polonini appeared frequently at the Teatro Regio di Torino. In addition to his performances there in the world premieres of Manon Lescaut (1893) and La bohème (1896), he sang in the world premieres of two now forgotten Italian operas – Antonio Cagnoni
Antonio Cagnoni
Antonio Cagnoni was an Italian composer. Primarily known for his operas, his work is characterized by his use of leitmotifs and moderately dissonant harmonies. In addition to writing music for the stage, he composed a modest amount of sacred music, most notably a Requiem in 1888...
's Francesca da Rimimi (1878) and Gaetano Luporini's I dispetti amorosi (1894). Polonini was also Beckmesser in the Teatro Regio's first performance of Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. It is among the longest operas still commonly performed today, usually taking around four and a half hours. It was first performed at the Königliches Hof- und National-Theater in Munich, on June 21,...
(1893).
Entimio Polonini
Alessandro Polonini's father, Entimio Polonini (born circa 1820), was also an opera singer (bass) who sang in Italy, Paris, St. Petersburg and London. In Italy, Entimio Polonini sang in the premieres of Saverio MercadanteSaverio Mercadante
Giuseppe Saverio Raffaele Mercadante was an Italian composer, particularly of operas. While Mercadante may not have retained the international celebrity of Gaetano Donizetti or Gioachino Rossini beyond his own lifetime, he composed as impressive a number of works as either; and his development of...
's Il bravo, ossia La veneziana, (La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
, 1839) and Otto Nicolai's Il templario (Teatro Regio di Torino, 1840). He made his London debut in 1847 and for 21 years sang with the Royal Italian Opera
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
. In April 1855 he appeared there in Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's Fidelio
Fidelio
Fidelio is a German opera in two acts by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is Beethoven's only opera. The German libretto is by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly which had been used for the 1798 opera Léonore, ou L’amour conjugal by Pierre Gaveaux, and for the 1804 opera Leonora...
in the presence of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte
Napoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
, as part of the French emperor's state visit to Britain. Entimio Polonini also performed in other cities in Britain and Ireland with impresario Thomas Willert Beale's touring opera company.
External links
- Maynard, Walter (aka Thomas Willert Beale), The Enterprising Impresario, London: Bradbury, Evans and Co. 1867 (full text). This book of Thomas Willert Beale's memoirs contains several anecdotes about Entimio Polonini (Alessandro Polonini's father).