Cesira Ferrani
Cesira Ferrani (May 8, 1863 in Turin – May 4, 1943 in Pollone) was an Italian operatic lyric soprano who is best known for debuting two of the most iconic roles in opera history, Mimì in the original 1896 production of Giacomo Puccini's La bohème and the title role in Puccini's Manon Lescaut in its 1893 world premiere. Ferrani sang a wide repertoire that encompassed not only verismo opera but the works of composers like Verdi, Gounod, Wagner, and Debussy. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Turin (city and commune in Italy), Died May 6, 1943 (Pollone (Italian comune) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1929
Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gramophone | 2927b | 10-in. | December 1902 | L'altra notte in fondo al mare | Cesira Ferrani | Soprano vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX544 | 12-in. | 4/30/1929 | Si tutto in un istante | Cesira Ferrani ; Alessandro Granda ; Rosetta Pampanini ; Gino Vanelli ; Conchita Velásquez | Opera | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX545 | 12-in. | 4/30/1929 | Tu Suzuki | Cesira Ferrani ; Rosetta Pampanini ; Gino Vanelli ; Conchita Velásquez | Opera | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX620 | 12-in. | January-July 1929 | Finora in questa camera | Salvatore Baccaloni ; Dino Borgioli ; Mercedes Capsir ; Cesira Ferrani | Mixed vocal quartet | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX621 | 12-in. | 7/1/1929 | Ah! Se qui restar non posso | Salvatore Baccaloni ; Vincenzo Bettoni ; Dino Borgioli ; Mercedes Capsir ; Cesira Ferrani ; Riccardo Stracciari | Mixed vocal sextet, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX624 | 12-in. | 7/2/1929 | Bricconi! Birbanti! | Salvatore Baccaloni ; Dino Borgioli ; Mercedes Capsir ; Cesira Ferrani ; Riccardo Stracciari | Mixed vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX627 | 12-in. | 7/3/1929 | Zitti zitti- piano piano | Salvatore Baccaloni ; Aristide Baracchi ; Vincenzo Bettoni ; Dino Borgioli ; Mercedes Capsir ; Cesira Ferrani ; Riccardo Stracciari | Mixed vocal ensemble, with vocal chorus and orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX632 | 12-in. | 7/5/1929 | Mi par d'esser colla testa... | Salvatore Baccaloni ; Vincenzo Bettoni ; Dino Borgioli ; Mercedes Capsir ; Cesira Ferrani ; Riccardo Stracciari | Mixed vocal sextet, with vocal chorus and orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX633 | 12-in. | 7/5/1929 | Che cosa accade... | Salvatore Baccaloni ; Vincenzo Bettoni ; Dino Borgioli ; Mercedes Capsir ; Cesira Ferrani ; Riccardo Stracciari | Mixed vocal sextet, with vocal chorus and orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Columbia (U.K.) | WBX634 | 12-in. | 7/6/1929 | Fredda ed immobile | Salvatore Baccaloni ; Vincenzo Bettoni ; Dino Borgioli ; Mercedes Capsir ; Cesira Ferrani ; Riccardo Stracciari | Mixed vocal sextet, with vocal chorus and orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ferrani, Cesira," accessed December 27, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111643.
Ferrani, Cesira. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 27, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111643.
"Ferrani, Cesira." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 27 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Ferrani, Cesira, 1863-1943 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001071703
Wikidata: Cesira Ferrari - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q404373
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/41495708
MusicBrainz: Cesira Ferrari - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/71584b43-2dc1-4728-9724-394a40a1d0b0
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