Franco Ventriglia
Encyclopedia
Franco Ventriglia is an opera
singer who sang bass
in every major European opera house
for over twenty years during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. He returned to the U.S. in 1978 and continued performing there (including Carnegie Hall
) and in southeast Asia
until his retirement at age 79.
. He grew up on a truck farm
and was graduated from high school there in 1941. He enlisted in the Marine Corps
serving in the First Marine Aircraft Wing in the South Pacific
during World War II. After returning from the war
, he was working at his brother's filling station
in Easton, Connecticut
when Mario Pagano
, a maestro de Canto at the American Theatre Wing Professional School
heard from one of Ventriglia's coworkers about his singing talent. Ventriglia passed an audition and went on to attend ATW's Professional School on the G.I. Bill, crossing paths with fellow classmate Marlon Brando
, among others.
, a music lover, granted Ventriglia permission to take one day off from work each week to continue his voice studies in New York City. After Pagano's death, Ventriglia and his wife Jean boarded the ocean liner
SS Constitution
for Italy
. On board, after singing Ol' Man River
for a group in first class, he met a businessman who asked him to contact Toti Dal Monte
, a great coloratura soprano who also taught voice in Rome
. Ventriglia took singing lessons from Dal Monte and eventually made his operatic debut in Palermo
, singing in the Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
. He later sang with Luciano Pavarotti
in La Bohème
and Rigoletto. He performed in Samson and Delilah
at La Scala
, a performance he considered the highlight of his career.
in Wallingford, Connecticut
with his wife Jean.
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...
singer who sang bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
in every major European opera house
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
for over twenty years during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. He returned to the U.S. in 1978 and continued performing there (including Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
) and in southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
until his retirement at age 79.
Biography
Franco Ventriglia was born in 1922 in Fairfield, ConnecticutFairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. He grew up on a truck farm
Vegetable farming
Vegetable farming is the growing of vegetables for human consumption.Traditionally it was done in the soil in small rows or blocks, often primarily for consumption on the farm, with the excess sold in nearby towns...
and was graduated from high school there in 1941. He enlisted in the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
serving in the First Marine Aircraft Wing in the South Pacific
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
during World War II. After returning from the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was working at his brother's filling station
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
in Easton, Connecticut
Easton, Connecticut
Easton is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,490 at the 2010 census. Easton contains the historic district of Aspetuck....
when Mario Pagano
Mario Pagano
Mario Pagano was an Italian controversial author, jurisconsult and man of letters.-Biography and works:...
, a maestro de Canto at the American Theatre Wing Professional School
American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
heard from one of Ventriglia's coworkers about his singing talent. Ventriglia passed an audition and went on to attend ATW's Professional School on the G.I. Bill, crossing paths with fellow classmate Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
, among others.
Singing career
Ventriglia worked as an inspector at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, CT and sang in local concerts. After attending a few of Ventriglia's concerts in Bridgeport, CT, Igor SikorskyIgor Sikorsky
Igor Sikorsky , born Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky was a Russian American pioneer of aviation in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft...
, a music lover, granted Ventriglia permission to take one day off from work each week to continue his voice studies in New York City. After Pagano's death, Ventriglia and his wife Jean boarded the ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
SS Constitution
SS Constitution
The SS Constitution was an ocean liner owned by American Export Lines. She was commissioned in 1951. She sailed on the New York-Genoa-Naples and Gibraltar route to Europe...
for Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. On board, after singing Ol' Man River
Ol' Man River
"Ol' Man River" is a song in the 1927 musical Show Boat that expresses the African American hardship and struggles of the time with the endless, uncaring flow of the Mississippi River; it is sung from the point-of-view of a dock worker on a showboat, and is the most famous song from the show...
for a group in first class, he met a businessman who asked him to contact Toti Dal Monte
Toti Dal Monte
Antonietta Meneghel , better known by her stage name Toti Dal Monte, was a celebrated Italian operatic soprano with a sweet and limpid lyric voice. She was a favourite artist of the celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini...
, a great coloratura soprano who also taught voice 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...
. Ventriglia took singing lessons from Dal Monte and eventually made his operatic debut in Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, singing in the 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,...
. He later sang with Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
in 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...
and Rigoletto. He performed in Samson and Delilah
Samson and Delilah (opera)
Samson and Delilah , Op. 47, is a grand opera in three acts and four scenes by Camille Saint-Saëns to a French libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire...
at 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...
, a performance he considered the highlight of his career.
Retirement
Opera singers, namely tenors, usually retire when they are in their 50s, but basses can perform longer; Ventriglia's last concert was at the age of 79. He has since retired and is living in a retirement communityRetirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
in Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
with his wife Jean.
External links and sources
- Record-Journal.com interview with Franco Ventriglia
- Successful opera career was destiny, a December 2004 article from a Connecticut newspaper
- Recordings by Franco Ventriglia from Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...