Cesare Formichi

Cesare Formichi (15 April 1883, Rome - 21 July 1949, Rome) was a prominent Italian operatic baritone, particularly associated with the Italian repertory.

Formichi studied in Rome with Pio Di Pietro and in Firenze with Vincenzo Lombardi, and made his debut in December 1907 at the Teatro Olimpia in Bologna as Lescaut in Manon. He went on to appear in Italy's leading opera houses, including La Scala in Milan. Soon, he was accepting a string of engagements to sing outside Italy, notably in Saint Petersburg (in 1912), Buenos Aires (in 1914), Paris (in 1922), Monte-Carlo, Vienna, and London (in 1924).

He sang as first baritone at the Chicago Opera from 1922 until 1932. He sang in Berlin in October 1933 with the Italian opera conducted by Ettore Panizza. He went with a troupe of singers from La Scala on a tour of France in 1935, and later organized opera seasons in London.

Notable roles of his included Ashton, Rigoletto, di Luna, Amonasro, Iago, and some Wagner parts sung in Italian (Klingsor, for example). Formichi possessed a big, rich-toned, important sounding voice which can be heard on the numerous acoustic and electrical recordings which he made during the peak of his career. Many of these recordings have been re-released on CD.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 15, 1883 (Rome), Died July 21, 1949 (Rome)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1904 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal

Notes: Listed on some Columbia disc labels as Secare Formichi or S. Formichi.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 84 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 11306 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Pescator, affonda l'esca Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo and chorus, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11307 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 O sommo Carlo Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11451 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 É grave il sacrificio Ida Cattorini ; Cesare Formichi Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11452 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Prendi...quest'è l'immagine Angelo Bendinelli ; Ida Cattorini ; Cesare Formichi Vocal trio (soprano, tenor, and baritone) vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11457 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Sei splendida e lucente Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11460 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Ella verrà Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11473 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Brindisi Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11494 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Gran concertato finale Egidio Cunego ; Cesare Formichi ; Dolores Frau ; Giovanni Martino ; Lia Moglia Vocal quintet (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, and bass), with vocal chorus and orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11495 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Gran concertato finale Egidio Cunego ; Cesare Formichi ; Dolores Frau ; Giovanni Martino ; Lia Moglia Vocal quintet (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, and bass), with vocal chorus and orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11498 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Di Napata le gole Egidio Cunego ; Cesare Formichi ; Lia Moglia Vocal trio (soprano, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41750 10-in. between 1904 and 1919 Gia mi dicono venal Cesare Formichi Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41754 10-in. approximately 1904-1915 Da quel di Magda Dorini ; Cesare Formichi Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41755 10-in. 1904 or later Tu sei Ernani Egidio Cunego ; Magda Dorini ; Cesare Formichi Vocal trio (soprano, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41756 10-in. 1904 or later Di geloso amor sprezzato Magda Dorini ; Cesare Formichi ; Giuseppe Oppezzo Vocal trio (soprano, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41821 10-in. approximately 1904-1914 Sora mia Cesare Formichi Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41822 10-in. approximately 1913 Nutata 'e sentimento Cesare Formichi Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41824 10-in. approximately 1904-1914 Suspiranno Cesare Formichi Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41841 10-in. approximately 1913 Marechiare Cesare Formichi Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41849 10-in. between 1904 and 1919 Se tu m'ami Andreina Beinat ; Cesare Formichi Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41856 10-in. 1904 or later Canto notturno Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 42383 10-in. between 1910 and 1919 Toreador song Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 70536 10-in. between 1920 and 1923 Agnus Dei Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 70552 10-in. between 1920 and 1923 Pro peccatis Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 74769 12-in. 1916 Pari siamo Cesare Formichi ; Lorenzo Molajoli ; Teatro alla Scala Orchestra Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 74771 12-in. 1916 Cortigiani vol razza dannata Cesare Formichi ; Lorenzo Molajoli ; Teatro alla Scala Orchestra Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 26-50 of 84 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Formichi, Cesare," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104309.

Formichi, Cesare. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104309.

"Formichi, Cesare." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104309

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