Elvira de Hidalgo
Encyclopedia
Elvira de Hidalgo was a prominent Spanish
coloratura
soprano
, who later became a pedagogue. Her most famous pupil was Maria Callas
.
She was born in Valderrobres
, Teruel Province (Spain), and made her debut at the age of sixteen, at Naples' Teatro San Carlo, as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, which would become her best-known role. She was a pupil of Melchiorre Vidal, who also taught Maria Barrientos
, Graziella Pareto
, Julián Gayarre
, Fernando Valero, Francesco Vignas, and Rosina Storchio
.
Following her debut, de Hidalgo was quickly engaged for Paris, where she sang Rosina opposite Feodor Chaliapin
as Don Basilio. Appearances in Monte-Carlo, Prague, and Cairo followed.
Her debut with the New York Metropolitan Opera
occurred in 1910, as Rosina. With that company, de Hidalgo sang in Rigoletto (with Enrico Caruso) and La sonnambula (with Alessandro Bonci
) in the same season. She would return to the Met in 1924-25, for Il barbiere di Siviglia (directed by Armando Agnini
), Rigoletto (conducted by Tullio Serafin
), and Lucia di Lammermoor (with Beniamino Gigli
).
Following that New York debut, she sang in Florence, in Linda di Chamounix and Don Giovanni (as Zerlina, opposite Mattia Battistini
). She also portrayed Rosina in Rome, in 1911.
In 1916, she made her debut with the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, as Rosina, which she repeated there in 1921. The following year, de Hidalgo appeared in Buenos Aires at the Teatro Colón, in Rigoletto, La traviata, and Il barbiere. In 1924, she appeared in London with the British National Opera Company
, at Covent Garden
, in Rigoletto. That same year, she sang Lakmé and Il barbiere in Chicago. In 1926-27, she appeared opposite Chaliapin again, for a tour of the United States and Canada, with his Universal Artists Incorporation Company, in Il barbiere.
She recorded for Columbia, in 1907-08, with arias from Il barbiere, La sonnambula, and I puritani committed to disc. In 1909-10, she made discs for Fonotipia, with excerpts recorded from Il barbiere, Don Pasquale, La sonnambula, Roméo et Juliette, Dinorah, L'elisir d'amore, Don Giovanni, and Mireille. She apparently returned to the Columbia studios, in 1925, to record a performance of the "Mad Scene" from Dinorah.
De Hidalgo began teaching in 1933, and later held a position at the Athens Conservatoire
, where the young soprano Callas became her student. In 1957, Callas wrote of the woman who had an "essential role" in her artistic formation:
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
coloratura
Coloratura
Coloratura has several meanings. The word is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare . When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, who later became a pedagogue. Her most famous pupil was Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
.
Valderrobres
Valderrobres or Vall-de-roures is a municipality and the major town of the comarca of Matarranya in the province of Teruel, Aragon . It is located in view of the landscape of the northwestern foothills of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, by the Matarranya River, a tributary to the right of the Ebro...
, Teruel Province (Spain), and made her debut at the age of sixteen, at Naples' Teatro San Carlo, as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, which would become her best-known role. She was a pupil of Melchiorre Vidal, who also taught Maria Barrientos
Maria Barrientos
Maria Barrientos was a Spanish opera singer, a light coloratura soprano, one of the most eminent sopranos of her time.- Life and career :...
, Graziella Pareto
Graziella Pareto
Graziella Pareto was a Spanish soprano leggiero, one of the leading sopranos of the inter-war years. She is considered one of the great coloratura sopranos of the "Spanish School" of the early 20th century, alongside Maria Barrientos, Maria Galvany and Mercedes Capsir.-Life and career:Pareto was...
, Julián Gayarre
Julián Gayarre
Sebastián Julián Gayarre Garjón , better known as Julián Gayarre, was a Spanish opera singer who created the role of Marcello in Donizetti's Il Duca d'Alba and Enzo in Ponchielli's La Gioconda.Although he faced strong competition for this title from the likes of Roberto Stagno, Italo Campanini,...
, Fernando Valero, Francesco Vignas, and Rosina Storchio
Rosina Storchio
Rosina Storchio was an important Italian lyric soprano who starred in the world premieres of operas by Puccini, Leoncavallo, Mascagni and Giordano...
.
Following her debut, de Hidalgo was quickly engaged for Paris, where she sang Rosina opposite Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer. The possessor of a large and expressive bass voice, he enjoyed an important international career at major opera houses and is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.During the first phase...
as Don Basilio. Appearances in Monte-Carlo, Prague, and Cairo followed.
Her debut with the New York Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
occurred in 1910, as Rosina. With that company, de Hidalgo sang in Rigoletto (with Enrico Caruso) and La sonnambula (with Alessandro Bonci
Alessandro Bonci
Alessandro Bonci was an Italian lyric tenor known internationally for his association with the bel canto repertoire. He sang at many famous theatres, including New York's Metropolitan Opera, Milan's La Scala and London's Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.-Career:A native of Cesena, Romagna, Bonci...
) in the same season. She would return to the Met in 1924-25, for Il barbiere di Siviglia (directed by Armando Agnini
Armando Agnini
- Metropolitan Opera :Born in Naples, Italy, he went to the United States at the age of eighteen. He was associated with companies in Boston and Montreal, and made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera with a production of I puritani , in 1919...
), Rigoletto (conducted by Tullio Serafin
Tullio Serafin
-Biography:Tullio Serafin was a leading Italian opera conductor with a long career and a very broad repertoire who revived many 19th century bel canto operas by Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti to become staples of 20th century repertoire...
), and Lucia di Lammermoor (with Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli was an Italian opera singer. The most famous tenor of his generation, he was renowned internationally for the great beauty of his voice and the soundness of his vocal technique. Music critics sometimes took him to task, however, for what was perceived to be the over-emotionalism...
).
Following that New York debut, she sang in Florence, in Linda di Chamounix and Don Giovanni (as Zerlina, opposite Mattia Battistini
Mattia Battistini
Mattia Battistini was an Italian operatic baritone. He became internationally famous due to the beauty of his voice and the virtuosity of his singing technique, and he earned the sobriquet "King of Baritones".-Early life:...
). She also portrayed Rosina in Rome, in 1911.
In 1916, she made her debut with the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, as Rosina, which she repeated there in 1921. The following year, de Hidalgo appeared in Buenos Aires at the Teatro Colón, in Rigoletto, La traviata, and Il barbiere. In 1924, she appeared in London with the British National Opera Company
British National Opera Company
The British National Opera Company presented opera in English in London and on tour in the British provinces between 1922 and 1929. It was founded in December 1921 by singers and instrumentalists from Sir Thomas Beecham's Beecham Opera Company , which was disbanded when financial problems over...
, at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, in Rigoletto. That same year, she sang Lakmé and Il barbiere in Chicago. In 1926-27, she appeared opposite Chaliapin again, for a tour of the United States and Canada, with his Universal Artists Incorporation Company, in Il barbiere.
She recorded for Columbia, in 1907-08, with arias from Il barbiere, La sonnambula, and I puritani committed to disc. In 1909-10, she made discs for Fonotipia, with excerpts recorded from Il barbiere, Don Pasquale, La sonnambula, Roméo et Juliette, Dinorah, L'elisir d'amore, Don Giovanni, and Mireille. She apparently returned to the Columbia studios, in 1925, to record a performance of the "Mad Scene" from Dinorah.
De Hidalgo began teaching in 1933, and later held a position at the Athens Conservatoire
Athens Conservatoire
The Athens Conservatoire is the oldest conservatoire in modern Greece. It was founded in 1871 by the Athens Music and Drama Society. Initially, the musical instruments that were taught there were limited to the violin and the flute, representative of the ancient Greek Apollonian and Dionysian...
, where the young soprano Callas became her student. In 1957, Callas wrote of the woman who had an "essential role" in her artistic formation:
It is to this illustrious Spanish artist, whom the public and the old subscribers at La Scala will certainly recall as an unforgettable and superlative Rosina and as a splendid interpreter of other important roles, it is to this illustrious artist, I repeat, with a moved, devoted, and grateful heart, that I owe all my preparation and my artistic formation as an actress and musician. This elect woman, who, besides giving me her precious teaching, gave me her whole heart as well ... .