Ignacio Corsini
Encyclopedia
Ignacio Corsini was a well-known Argentine
folklore and tango
vocalist.
, a village in the Enna
Province of Sicily
, in 1891. He was the illegitimate son of Socorro Salomone and a local man whose identity was never revealed publicly—save for his being a Corsini (hence the child's last name). Ms. Salomone left Italy
for Buenos Aires
, in 1896, and settled in the middle-class Almagro
section of the city. They settled in Carlos Tejedor
, then a small pampas town where Corsini would spend the remainder of his childhood, finding work as an ox cart driver and herdsman
.
Corsini returned in 1907 to the Almagro section of Buenos Aires, where he was influenced by folk singer José Betinotti and a circus
performer, José Pacheco. Pacheco introduced him to the theatre and to his own daughter, Victoria Pacheco, whom Corsini would marry in 1911. He went on to perform in numerous theatre companies and circuses, and in 1912, he was awarded a recording contract by RCA Victor. His interpretation of traditional folklore standards earned him singing roles in numerous Argentine films in subsequent years, mostly in period piece
s set during Argentina's pastoral 19th century. These included: Santos Vega (1916), ¡Federación o muerte! (1917) and Milonguita (1922).
Having never attended a music conservatory, Corsini once attributed his unmistakable falsetto
to his bucolic pampas upbringing, recalling that "birds taught me the spontaneity of their singing, without witnesses and in the great scenery of nature."
Corsini also earned renown as a tango
vocalist, however. Initially avoiding the genre, he included one tango piece, "Un lamento," in a 1920 album. Well received, this recording would remain his sole foray into tango until, in 1922, he was persuaded to premiere "Patotero sentimental" in a sainete
(stage comedy), "El bailarín del cabaret." Corsini secured his standing in the world of tango by popularizing Juan de Dios Filiberto
's soulful milonga
, "Caminito
," in 1927. Written as an ode to what was then an oft-used shortcut in the blue-collar La Boca
section of Buenos Aires, "Caminito" remains one of the most recognizable Argentine songs of any genre.
"El Caballero Cantor"—the "gentleman singer," as he was known by then—Corsini was also a composer and lyricist of numerous tangos, such as, among others, "Flor marchita," and "Aquel cantor de mi pueblo" (music by guitar
ist Enrique Maciel
). The latter was immortalized by Corsini's one-time film co-star, Edmundo Rivero
. He also composed in other genres, writing folklore pieces (such as "Tradición gaucha" and "A mi palomita"), and a waltz
: "Tristeza criolla," based on a poem by Julián de Charras.
A 1929 songbook written as an ode to the era of 19th century strongman Juan Manuel de Rosas
by poet Héctor Blomberg and guitarist Enrique Maciel
featured Corsini as the lead vocalist, a performance considered by critics to have been th highlight of the album. His performance of the album's title track, "La pulpera de Santa Lucía," was critical to its being aired on the radio. This return to folklore was followed by similar performances on film, including Rapsodia gaucha (1932), Ídolos de la radio (1934, memorable also for a duet between two standards of tango, Ada Falcón
and Carlos Gardel
), and the western movie-styled Fortín alto (1941), where he was featured with Agustín Irusta
and a then-unknown Edmundo Rivero
.
These successes were dealt a bitter turn by the death of his wife Victoria, on May 28, 1949, following which he retired as a performer. Corsini penned his memoirs the following year, in which he wrote that "in her I found the great partner of all my life, who encouraged me in my uncertain hours and to whom I owe a great part of my success" (the autobiography was never published).
Corsini reappeared in 1961 for a Channel 7 special, "Volver a vivir" ("To Live Again"). This would be his last public performance, however, and on July 26, 1967, the 'gentleman singer' died at age 76.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
folklore and tango
Argentine Tango
Argentine tango is a musical genre of simple quadruple metre and binary musical form, and the social dance that accompanies it. Its lyrics and music are marked by nostalgia, expressed through melodic instruments including the bandoneon. Originated at the ending of the 19th century in the suburbs of...
vocalist.
Life and work
Andrés Ignacio Corsini was born in TroinaTroina
Troina is a town and comune in the province of Enna, Sicily, Italy. It is located in the Nebrodi Park.-History:...
, a village in the Enna
Enna
Enna is a city and comune located roughly at the center of Sicily, southern Italy, in the province of Enna, towering above the surrounding countryside...
Province of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, in 1891. He was the illegitimate son of Socorro Salomone and a local man whose identity was never revealed publicly—save for his being a Corsini (hence the child's last name). Ms. Salomone left 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...
for 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...
, in 1896, and settled in the middle-class Almagro
Almagro, Buenos Aires
Almagro is a mostly middle-class barrio of Buenos Aires, Argentina.The neighbourhood is delimited by La Plata avenue and Río de Janeiro street to the west, Independencia avenue to the south, Sánchez de Bustamante, Sánchez de Loria and Gallo streets to the east, and Córdoba/Estado de Israel avenues...
section of the city. They settled in Carlos Tejedor
Carlos Tejedor
Carlos Tejedor may refer to:*Carlos Tejedor , governor of Buenos Aires *Carlos Tejedor Partido, an administrative district in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina*Carlos Tejedor, Buenos Aires, a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina...
, then a small pampas town where Corsini would spend the remainder of his childhood, finding work as an ox cart driver and herdsman
Herdsman
Herdsman can refer to:* a Herder, a worker who lives a possibly semi-nomadic life, caring for various domestic animals* the Perth suburb Herdsman, Western Australia** Herdsman Lake, a groundwater lake located in Herdsman...
.
Corsini returned in 1907 to the Almagro section of Buenos Aires, where he was influenced by folk singer José Betinotti and a circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
performer, José Pacheco. Pacheco introduced him to the theatre and to his own daughter, Victoria Pacheco, whom Corsini would marry in 1911. He went on to perform in numerous theatre companies and circuses, and in 1912, he was awarded a recording contract by RCA Victor. His interpretation of traditional folklore standards earned him singing roles in numerous Argentine films in subsequent years, mostly in period piece
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
s set during Argentina's pastoral 19th century. These included: Santos Vega (1916), ¡Federación o muerte! (1917) and Milonguita (1922).
Having never attended a music conservatory, Corsini once attributed his unmistakable falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
to his bucolic pampas upbringing, recalling that "birds taught me the spontaneity of their singing, without witnesses and in the great scenery of nature."
Corsini also earned renown as a tango
Argentine tango
Argentine tango is a musical genre of simple quadruple metre and binary musical form, and the social dance that accompanies it. Its lyrics and music are marked by nostalgia, expressed through melodic instruments including the bandoneon. Originated at the ending of the 19th century in the suburbs of...
vocalist, however. Initially avoiding the genre, he included one tango piece, "Un lamento," in a 1920 album. Well received, this recording would remain his sole foray into tango until, in 1922, he was persuaded to premiere "Patotero sentimental" in a sainete
Sainete
A sainete was a popular Spanish comic opera piece, a one-act dramatic vignette, with music. It was often placed at the end of entertainments, or between other types of performance. It was vernacular in style, and used scenes of low life. Active from the 18th to 20th centuries, it superseded the...
(stage comedy), "El bailarín del cabaret." Corsini secured his standing in the world of tango by popularizing Juan de Dios Filiberto
Juan de Dios Filiberto
Juan de Dios Filiberto was an Argentine violinist, conductor, poet and composer who became prominent in the Argentine tango genre.-Life and work:...
's soulful milonga
Milonga
Milonga can refer to an Argentine, Uruguayan, and Southern Brazilian form of music which preceded the tango and the dance form which accompanies it, or to the term for places or events where the tango or Milonga are danced...
, "Caminito
Caminito
Caminito is a street museum and a traditional alley, located in La Boca, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina...
," in 1927. Written as an ode to what was then an oft-used shortcut in the blue-collar La Boca
La Boca
La Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa. In fact the name has a strong assonance with the Genoese neighborhood of Boccadasse , and some people believe that...
section of Buenos Aires, "Caminito" remains one of the most recognizable Argentine songs of any genre.
"El Caballero Cantor"—the "gentleman singer," as he was known by then—Corsini was also a composer and lyricist of numerous tangos, such as, among others, "Flor marchita," and "Aquel cantor de mi pueblo" (music by guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Enrique Maciel
Enrique Maciel
Enrique Maciel was a versatile and sensitive composer, lyricist, and harmonium, piano, bandoneon and guitar performer...
). The latter was immortalized by Corsini's one-time film co-star, Edmundo Rivero
Edmundo Rivero
Leonel Edmundo Rivero was an Argentine tango singer, composer, and impresario.-Early days:Rivero was born in the southern Buenos Aires suburb of Valentín Alsina. Joining his father in some of his travels, he was exposed to the lifestyle and the music of the gauchos of Buenos Aires Province from...
. He also composed in other genres, writing folklore pieces (such as "Tradición gaucha" and "A mi palomita"), and a waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
: "Tristeza criolla," based on a poem by Julián de Charras.
A 1929 songbook written as an ode to the era of 19th century strongman Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
by poet Héctor Blomberg and guitarist Enrique Maciel
Enrique Maciel
Enrique Maciel was a versatile and sensitive composer, lyricist, and harmonium, piano, bandoneon and guitar performer...
featured Corsini as the lead vocalist, a performance considered by critics to have been th highlight of the album. His performance of the album's title track, "La pulpera de Santa Lucía," was critical to its being aired on the radio. This return to folklore was followed by similar performances on film, including Rapsodia gaucha (1932), Ídolos de la radio (1934, memorable also for a duet between two standards of tango, Ada Falcón
Ada Falcon
Ada Falcón was an Argentine tango dancer, singer and film actress of the 1920s and 1930s. She starred in the film Idolos de la radio in 1934. She was famous for her tango work and made over 200 recordings in the 1920s and 1930s. She shared a long relationship with orchestra leader Francisco Canaro...
and Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel was a singer, songwriter and actor, and is perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was born in Toulouse, France, although he never acknowledged his birthplace publicly, and there are still claims of his birth in Uruguay. He lived in Argentina from the age of two...
), and the western movie-styled Fortín alto (1941), where he was featured with Agustín Irusta
Agustín Irusta
Agustín Ernesto Irusta is a former Argentine football goalkeeper who played most of his career for San Lorenzo de Almagro.Irusta made his professional debut for San Lorenzo on 23 June 1963 against Atlanta...
and a then-unknown Edmundo Rivero
Edmundo Rivero
Leonel Edmundo Rivero was an Argentine tango singer, composer, and impresario.-Early days:Rivero was born in the southern Buenos Aires suburb of Valentín Alsina. Joining his father in some of his travels, he was exposed to the lifestyle and the music of the gauchos of Buenos Aires Province from...
.
These successes were dealt a bitter turn by the death of his wife Victoria, on May 28, 1949, following which he retired as a performer. Corsini penned his memoirs the following year, in which he wrote that "in her I found the great partner of all my life, who encouraged me in my uncertain hours and to whom I owe a great part of my success" (the autobiography was never published).
Corsini reappeared in 1961 for a Channel 7 special, "Volver a vivir" ("To Live Again"). This would be his last public performance, however, and on July 26, 1967, the 'gentleman singer' died at age 76.