Tommaso Salvini
Encyclopedia
Tommaso Salvini was an Italian
actor. His father and mother were both actors, and Tommaso first appeared when he was barely fourteen as Pasquino in Goldoni
's Donne curiose. In 1847 he joined the company of Adelaide Ristori
, who was then at the beginning of her brilliant career. It was with her as Elettra that he won his first success in tragedy, playing the title rôle in Alfieri
s Oreste at the Teatro Valle in Rome
.
He fought in the cause of Italian independence
in 1849; otherwise his life was an unbroken series of successes in his art. He acted frequently in England
, and made five visits to America
, his first in 1873 and his last in 1889. In 1886 he played there Othello
to the lago of Edwin Booth
.
Apart from Othello, which he played for the first time at Vicenza
in June 1856, his most famous impersonations included Conrad in Paolo Giacometti
's La Morte civile, Egisto in Alfieri's Merope
, Saul in Alfieri's Saul
, Paolo in Silvio Pellico
's Francesca da Rimini
, Oedipus
in Nicolini
's play of that name, Macbeth
and King Lear
.
Salvini's acting in Othello greatly inspired the young Russian actor Constantin Stanislavski, who saw Salvini perform in Moscow in 1882 and who would, himself, go on to become one of the most important theatre practitioner
s in the history of theatre. Stanislavski wrote that Salvini was the "finest representative" of his own approach to acting.
Salvini retired from the stage in 1890, but in January 1902 took part in the celebration in Rome
of Ristori's eightieth birthday. Salvini published a volume entitled Ricordi, aneddoti ed impressioni (Milan, 1895). Some idea of his career may be gathered from Leaves from the Autobiography of Tommaso Salvini (London
, 1893).
Salvini was so confident in his talents as an actor that he was once quoted as saying, "I can make an audience weep by reading them a menu."
Salvini made at least one recording for Zonofono in 1902 of 'Il sogno' from Saul. Listed in a contemporary Zonofono celebrity catalogue recently found.
His son Alessandro(aka Alexander) (1861-1896), also an actor, had several notable successes in America
, particularly as d'Artagnan in The Three Guardsmen. Another son Gustavo Salvini was a stage actor. Gustavo's sons, Tommaso's grandsons, were Alessandro Salvini(1890-1955) and Guido Salvini(1893-1965). Alessandro acted in movies dating back to silent pictures and Guido directed and wrote for films in the sound era.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
actor. His father and mother were both actors, and Tommaso first appeared when he was barely fourteen as Pasquino in Goldoni
Carlo Goldoni
Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty...
's Donne curiose. In 1847 he joined the company of Adelaide Ristori
Adelaide Ristori
Adelaide Ristori was a distinguished Italian tragedienne, who was often referred to as the Marquise.-Biography:...
, who was then at the beginning of her brilliant career. It was with her as Elettra that he won his first success in tragedy, playing the title rôle in Alfieri
Vittorio Alfieri
Count Vittorio Alfieri was an Italian dramatist, considered the "founder of Italian tragedy."-Early life:Alfieri was born at Asti in Piedmont....
s Oreste at the Teatro Valle in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
He fought in the cause of Italian independence
Italian Independence wars
The Wars of Italian Independence were three wars fought between Italian states and the Austrian Empire between 1848 and 1866, ending with the conquest of the entire Italian Peninsula...
in 1849; otherwise his life was an unbroken series of successes in his art. He acted frequently in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and made five visits to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, his first in 1873 and his last in 1889. In 1886 he played there Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
to the lago of Edwin Booth
Edwin Booth
Edwin Thomas Booth was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time...
.
Apart from Othello, which he played for the first time at Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
in June 1856, his most famous impersonations included Conrad in Paolo Giacometti
Paolo Giacometti
Paolo Giacometti was an Italian dramatist born at Novi Ligure. He was educated in law at Genoa, but at the age of twenty had some success with his play Rosilda and then devoted himself to the stage...
's La Morte civile, Egisto in Alfieri's Merope
Merope
Merope was originally the name of several, probably unrelated, characters in Greek mythology. The name may refer to:-Greek mythology:* Merope , one of the Heliades, daughter of Helios and Clymene...
, Saul in Alfieri's Saul
Saul
-People:Saul is a given/first name in English, the Anglicized form of the Hebrew name Shaul from the Hebrew Bible:* Saul , including people with this given namein the Bible:* Saul , a king of Edom...
, Paolo in Silvio Pellico
Silvio Pellico
Silvio Pellico was an Italian writer, poet, dramatist and patriot.-Biography:Silvio Pellico was born at Saluzzo . He spent the earlier portion of his life at Pinerolo and Turin, under the tuition of a priest named Manavella. At the age of ten he composed a tragedy inspired by a translation of the...
's Francesca da Rimini
Francesca da Rimini
Francesca da Rimini or Francesca da Polenta was the daughter of Guido da Polenta, lord of Ravenna. She was a historical contemporary of Dante Alighieri, who portrayed her as a character in the Divine Comedy.-Arranged marriage:...
, Oedipus
Oedipus
Oedipus was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. He fulfilled a prophecy that said he would kill his father and marry his mother, and thus brought disaster on his city and family...
in Nicolini
Nicolini
Nicola Francesco Leonardo Grimaldi was an Italian mezzo-soprano castrato who is best remembered today for his association with the composer George Frideric Handel, in two of whose early operas he sang. Grimaldi was usually known by his stage name of Nicolini.Nicolini was born in Naples, where he...
's play of that name, Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
and King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
.
Salvini's acting in Othello greatly inspired the young Russian actor Constantin Stanislavski, who saw Salvini perform in Moscow in 1882 and who would, himself, go on to become one of the most important theatre practitioner
Theatre practitioner
Theatre practitioner is a modern term to describe someone who both creates theatrical performances and who produces a theoretical discourse that informs his or her practical work. A theatre practitioner may be a director, a dramatist, an actor, or—characteristically—often a combination of these...
s in the history of theatre. Stanislavski wrote that Salvini was the "finest representative" of his own approach to acting.
Salvini retired from the stage in 1890, but in January 1902 took part in the celebration in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
of Ristori's eightieth birthday. Salvini published a volume entitled Ricordi, aneddoti ed impressioni (Milan, 1895). Some idea of his career may be gathered from Leaves from the Autobiography of Tommaso Salvini (London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1893).
Salvini was so confident in his talents as an actor that he was once quoted as saying, "I can make an audience weep by reading them a menu."
Salvini made at least one recording for Zonofono in 1902 of 'Il sogno' from Saul. Listed in a contemporary Zonofono celebrity catalogue recently found.
His son Alessandro(aka Alexander) (1861-1896), also an actor, had several notable successes in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, particularly as d'Artagnan in The Three Guardsmen. Another son Gustavo Salvini was a stage actor. Gustavo's sons, Tommaso's grandsons, were Alessandro Salvini(1890-1955) and Guido Salvini(1893-1965). Alessandro acted in movies dating back to silent pictures and Guido directed and wrote for films in the sound era.
Sources
- Benedetti, Jean. 1999. Stanislavski: His Life and Art. Revised edition. Original edition published in 1988. London: Methuen. ISBN 0413525201.
- Stanislavski, Constantin. 1938. An Actor’s Work: A Student’s Diary. Trans. and ed. Jean Benedetti. London: Routledge, 2008. ISBN 9780415422239.