Franco Ghione Italian conductor, violinist and composer Country: Italy

1. Biography of Franco Ghione
2. Conducting Career
3. Recordings and Compositions
4. As a composer, Ghione created numerous songs and symphonic poems.

Biography of Franco Ghione

Franco Ghione was an Italian conductor, violinist, and composer. He was born in 1886 and received his first violin lessons from his father. Ghione studied composition, violin performance, and Gregorian paleography at the Parma Conservatory. After completing his studies, he served as a violinist in the orchestras of the Parma Theatre and the Augusteo Theatre in Rome. At the age of 18, he gave his first concert.

Conducting Career

Ghione began his conducting career in 1913 and worked in several major opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, where he served as assistant to Arturo Toscanini from 1922 to 1923. His successful performances at La Scala included productions of Jules Massenet's "Manon" and Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor". Prior to his time at La Scala, Ghione worked in Barcelona from 1919 to 1920. He was also invited to conduct at the Teatro Regio in Turin and other Italian theaters.

From 1936 to 1940, Ghione conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It was a challenging period for him as he did not speak English, and his contemporaries recalled moments of frustration when the musicians did not understand his instructions. After his time in Detroit, Ghione conducted orchestras in New York City, Chicago, Buenos Aires (including the famous Teatro Colón orchestra), Rio de Janeiro, and Sydney. He also toured in New Zealand and South Africa before returning to Italy in 1958.

Upon his return to Europe, Ghione conducted a production of Verdi's "Falstaff" in Madrid and retired in 1960.

Recordings and Compositions

Ghione collaborated with renowned opera singers of the first half of the 20th century and left behind many interesting recordings. Notable among them is the recording of Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" featuring Beniamino Gigli, Puccini's "Turandot" with Gina Cigna, Francesco Merli, and Magda Olivero, and Verdi's "La traviata" with Maria Callas.

As a composer, Ghione created numerous songs and symphonic poems.

Franco Ghione passed away in 1964. He was one of the leading experts of his time in Italian romantic opera and had an extensive symphonic repertoire.