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Fernando De LuciaItalian opera singer-tenor
Date of Birth: 11.10.1860
Country:  Italy |
Content:
Biography of Fernando De Lucia
Fernando De Lucia was an Italian operatic tenor, vocal teacher, and international star. Known as a prominent representative of verismo, he captivated audiences with his performances in roles such as Canio in Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" and various characters in operas by Verdi and Puccini. However, he is now highly regarded by collectors for his exquisite and technically demanding singing style, which originated before verismo and has almost disappeared in modern times.
Early Life and Education
Fernando De Lucia was born on October 11, 1860, in Naples, Italy. He studied at the Naples Music Conservatory under the tutelage of Vincenzo Lombardi and Beniamino Carelli. In 1885, he made his debut at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, performing the role of Faust in Charles Gounod's opera "Faust." Over the next two or three years, he performed in Spain, South America, and smaller Italian opera houses, expanding his repertoire with roles in operas such as "Linda di Chamounix," "Dinorah," "L'elisir d'amore," "Fra Diavolo," and "La sonnambula."
International Success
While in Madrid, De Lucia met British impresario Augustus Harris and critic and pedagogue Herman Klein, who arranged his first performances in London. In 1887, he sang at Drury Lane, although his appearances went largely unnoticed due to the British debut of Polish opera star Jean de Reszke. Furthermore, his portrayal of Count Almaviva, a role that would later become closely associated with De Lucia, was criticized by British newspapers as "truly abominable."
On October 31, 1891, De Lucia participated in the world premiere of Pietro Mascagni's comic opera "L'amico Fritz" at the Costanzi Theatre in Rome, alongside French diva Emma Calvé. This role placed him at the forefront of the European craze for Mascagni's operas in the early 1890s, attracting widespread attention and leading him to Florence, where he performed in the composer's third opera, "I Rantzau" (1892). Fernando's career as one of the leading exponents of verismo continued on the English stage with Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci." Klein wrote that the emotional intensity of De Lucia's performances and the triumph of realism were so strong that the audience sat in complete silence.
On June 19, 1893, he made his debut at London's Covent Garden, followed by performances of excerpts from "Cavalleria rusticana" for Queen Victoria at Windsor. De Lucia also sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York during the 1893-1894 season, achieving success as Canio but receiving mixed reviews for his portrayals of Don Ottavio in "Don Giovanni" and the Duke of Mantua in "Rigoletto."
Later Years and Legacy
Throughout his career, De Lucia performed at prestigious venues such as La Scala in Milan, where he participated in the premieres of Mascagni's "Silvano" and the first Milanese productions of "La bohème" and "La Navarraise." In 1897, he sang at Buckingham Palace in a concert attended by Queen Victoria. For approximately 15 years, De Lucia divided his time between European capitals, regularly appearing in London, where his interpretation of Don José in Bizet's "Carmen" was particularly admired, and Milan, where he excelled in performing operas by Rossini, Bellini, and Verdi. His last performance in London took place in 1905.
In 1916, De Lucia bid farewell to the stage, portraying Rodolfo in "La bohème" at La Scala. The following year, he said goodbye to his Neapolitan fans at the Teatro di San Carlo. His final public appearance was at the funeral of the incomparable Enrico Caruso in 1921. In his last years, Fernando De Lucia resided in Naples and taught at the conservatory where he had once studied. He passed away on February 21, 1925.
