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 76-84 of 84 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia (U.K.) A941 10-in. between May 1923 and October 1925 Gia! mi dicon venal Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) A942 10-in. between May 1923 and September 1925 Di Provenza il mar Cesare Formichi ; Hamilton Harty Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) A947 10-in. between May 1923 and October 1925 Prologue Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) A948 10-in. between May 1923 and October 1925 Prologue Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) A960 10-in. between May 1923 and September 1925 Signor? Va, non ho niente Fernando Autori ; Cesare Formichi ; Hamilton Harty Male vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX2744 12-in. either April or May 1927 Te deum Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo, with vocal chorus vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX2747 12-in. either April or May 1927 Oasis and finale, 3rd act Cesare Formichi ; Grace Holst Vocal duet (soprano and baritone) vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WA6121 10-in. either August or September 1927 D'une prison Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia (U.K.) WA6122 10-in. either August or September 1927 Obstination Cesare Formichi Baritone vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 76-84 of 84 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Formichi, Cesare," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104309.

Formichi, Cesare. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104309.

"Formichi, Cesare." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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