Hipólito Lázaro
Encyclopedia
Hipólito Lázaro (Barcelona, Spain, September 13, 1887 – May 14, 1974) was a Spanish/Catalan opera singer. Lázaro was born in Barcelona
, Spain.
His professional debut was in 1910 at Teatre Novedades in Barcelona
, in La favorite. His Italian debut came late 1910 in Rigoletto at the Teatro Tosi-Borghi in Ferrara
. During the summer of 1911 he appeared in a series of concerts held in England as Antonio Manuele.
Lázaro created the tenor roles of Mascagni's Parisina
(1913, Scala) and Il piccolo Marat
(1921, Costanzi), and Romani's Fedra (1915, Costanzi). While in Philadelphia in 1924, he received a letter from Umberto Giordano
who was working on his next opera, La cena delle beffe
, asking him to create the tenor role. The premiere was held in December 1924 at La Scala with Lázaro, under the baton of Toscanini. His career was based on verismo roles, Verdi (specially Rigoletto, Aida, Il trovatore), Carmen
, some bel canto
roles (La favorite, I puritani, Les huguenots) and Spanish zarzuela
(Arrieta's Marina, specially).
He had a "wide-ranging, timbred, considerably vibrant, extended, bold, resilient even if slightly guttural voice" (Paolo Padovan) with a brilliant metallic shine, and a passionate approach to singing. When he sang at the Metropolitan Opera House
he was overshadowed by Caruso to whom he was compared. He also maintained a strong rivalry with Miguel Fleta
.
The second part of Lázaros career, stretching from the mid 20's to his retirement in 1950 (actually, he retired in 1940, with some performances after), consisted of concerts and performances held within Spain, France (Paris) and Italy, apart from his various trips to South America (he was very popular there) and in particular Cuba.
His repertoire was becoming narrower and narrower from the 30's and onwards, and the voice showed clear signs of decline. Yet he conserved some of his glory and acclaim through the zarzuela. During the 30's he performed in Curro Vargas, Doña Francisquita, La Tempestad and starred in Spanish operas as Bretón's La Dolores, Vives' Euda d'Uriach (1934) and Gaig's El estudiante de Salamanca (1935).
Lázaro's career ended in La Habana, Cuba, 1950, with the performances of Marina, Aida and Rigoletto. Then, he wrote two books: El libro de mi vida (1968, My life book), an autobiographical work, and Mi método de canto (1947, My singing method), didactical work for tenor students.
He died 24 years later in his native Barcelona, on May 14, 1974, at the age of 87.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain.
His professional debut was in 1910 at Teatre Novedades in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, in La favorite. His Italian debut came late 1910 in Rigoletto at the Teatro Tosi-Borghi in Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
. During the summer of 1911 he appeared in a series of concerts held in England as Antonio Manuele.
Lázaro created the tenor roles of Mascagni's Parisina
Parisina
Parisina is a poem written by Byron. It was published on 13 February 1816 and probably written between 1812 and 1815.It is based on a story related by Edward Gibbon in his Miscellaneous Works about Niccolò III d'Este, one of the dukes of Ferrara who lived in the fifteenth century...
(1913, Scala) and Il piccolo Marat
Il piccolo Marat
Il piccolo Marat is a dramma lirico or opera in three acts by Pietro Mascagni, 1921, from a libretto by Giovacchino Forzano.-Performance history:...
(1921, Costanzi), and Romani's Fedra (1915, Costanzi). While in Philadelphia in 1924, he received a letter from Umberto Giordano
Umberto Giordano
Umberto Menotti Maria Giordano was an Italian composer, mainly of operas.He was born in Foggia in Puglia, southern Italy, and studied under Paolo Serrao at the Conservatoire of Naples...
who was working on his next opera, La cena delle beffe
La cena delle beffe
La cena delle beffe is an opera in four acts composed by Umberto Giordano to an Italian libretto by Sem Benelli adapted from his play of the same name...
, asking him to create the tenor role. The premiere was held in December 1924 at La Scala with Lázaro, under the baton of Toscanini. His career was based on verismo roles, Verdi (specially Rigoletto, Aida, Il trovatore), Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
, some bel canto
Bel canto
Bel canto , along with a number of similar constructions , is an Italian opera term...
roles (La favorite, I puritani, Les huguenots) and Spanish zarzuela
Zarzuela
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular song, as well as dance...
(Arrieta's Marina, specially).
He had a "wide-ranging, timbred, considerably vibrant, extended, bold, resilient even if slightly guttural voice" (Paolo Padovan) with a brilliant metallic shine, and a passionate approach to singing. When he sang at the Metropolitan Opera House
Metropolitan Opera House (39th St)
The Metropolitan Opera House was an opera house located at 1411 Broadway in New York City. Opened in 1883 and demolished in 1967, it was the first home of the Metropolitan Opera Company.-History:...
he was overshadowed by Caruso to whom he was compared. He also maintained a strong rivalry with Miguel Fleta
Miguel Fleta
Miguel Burró Fleta was a Spanish operatic tenor....
.
The second part of Lázaros career, stretching from the mid 20's to his retirement in 1950 (actually, he retired in 1940, with some performances after), consisted of concerts and performances held within Spain, France (Paris) and Italy, apart from his various trips to South America (he was very popular there) and in particular Cuba.
His repertoire was becoming narrower and narrower from the 30's and onwards, and the voice showed clear signs of decline. Yet he conserved some of his glory and acclaim through the zarzuela. During the 30's he performed in Curro Vargas, Doña Francisquita, La Tempestad and starred in Spanish operas as Bretón's La Dolores, Vives' Euda d'Uriach (1934) and Gaig's El estudiante de Salamanca (1935).
Lázaro's career ended in La Habana, Cuba, 1950, with the performances of Marina, Aida and Rigoletto. Then, he wrote two books: El libro de mi vida (1968, My life book), an autobiographical work, and Mi método de canto (1947, My singing method), didactical work for tenor students.
He died 24 years later in his native Barcelona, on May 14, 1974, at the age of 87.