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Cesare Formichi

Cesare Formichi (15 April 1883 in Rome – 21 July 1949 in 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 Rome (capital and largest city of Italy), Died July 21, 1949 (Rome (capital and largest city of Italy) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1913 - 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 98 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 11308 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Vivrà contende il giubilo Teresina Chelotti ; Cesare Formichi Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11446 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Faust Angelo Bendinelli ; Cesare Formichi ; Dolores Frau ; Giovanni Martino Vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11449 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Che fate qui, Signor? Angelo Bendinelli ; Cesare Formichi ; Giovanni Martino Vocal trio, with orchestra 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 11453 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Concertato finale atto III, parte I Angelo Bendinelli ; Ida Cattorini ; Cesare Formichi ; Giovanni Martino Vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11454 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Concertato finale atto III, parte II Angelo Bendinelli ; Ida Cattorini ; Cesare Formichi ; Giovanni Martino Vocal quartet, with orchestra 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 11490 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 La bohème : Cuarteto Angelo Bendinelli ; Ida Cattorini ; Cesare Formichi ; Irma Mion Vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 11494 10-in. approximately 1913 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 1913 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 1913 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. approximately 1913 Gia mi dicono venal Cesare Formichi Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41754 10-in. approximately 1913 Da quel di Magda Dorini ; Cesare Formichi Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41755 10-in. approximately 1913 Tu sei Ernani Egidio Cunego ; Magda Dorini ; Cesare Formichi Vocal trio (soprano, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 41756 10-in. approximately 1913 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 1913 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 1913 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. approximately 1913 Se tu m'ami Andreina Beinat ; Cesare Formichi Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 26-50 of 98 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Formichi, Cesare," accessed January 8, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104309.

Formichi, Cesare. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 8, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104309.

"Formichi, Cesare." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 8 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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