Gabriella Besanzoni Italian opera singer, mezzo-soprano Date of Birth: 02.09.1888 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Gabriella Besanzoni
2. Early Career
3. Career Highlights
4. International Performances
5. Unfortunate Incident in Havana
6. Retirement and Legacy

Biography of Gabriella Besanzoni

Gabriella Besanzoni was an Italian opera singer, a mezzo-soprano. She was born in 1888 (some sources suggest 1890) in Rome, where she also began her musical education. Later, she became a student at the renowned Italian academy Accademia di Santa Cecilia.

Early Career

Besanzoni made her debut on the opera stage in 1911 in Viterbo, Italy. After that, she worked in several theaters in Genoa, Turin, and Bologna. In 1913, she debuted as a mezzo-soprano in Rome at the Teatro Costanzi, where she remained for several years. Her stage fame reached its peak in 1919 when she was invited by Enrico Caruso to perform in his tour in Mexico.

Career Highlights

Besanzoni gained immense success at the renowned La Scala opera house in Milan, where she performed the roles of Orfeo and Amneris. In 1932, she presented her interpretations of Carmen and Mignon to the public. During the 1910s and 1920s, Besanzoni was a star at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and other South American opera houses. Her repertoire included roles such as Dalila, Carmen, Amneris, Lola, Leonora in "La Favorita," Isabella in "L'Italiana in Algeri," and several others. She remained at the Teatro Colón until 1935.

International Performances

In the 1919-1920 season, Besanzoni also performed at the famous Metropolitan Opera in the United States, often sharing the stage with Caruso. However, her performances at the Metropolitan Opera were not particularly successful. She sang alongside Caruso in the production of "Samson et Dalila," despite some critics warning that her voice was not strong enough for the role. Nevertheless, her portrayal was excellent. Besanzoni also appeared as a guest at opera houses in Chicago, Havana, and Berlin.

Unfortunate Incident in Havana

On June 12, 1920, a regrettable incident occurred during a performance of "Aida" in Havana. A bomb exploded right behind the stage while Besanzoni and Maria Escobar were singing the famous duet of Aida and Amneris in the second act. Fortunately, none of the singers were injured, but the stage and scenery suffered significant damage. A few spectators were injured, but a catastrophe was averted when the orchestra played the Cuban national anthem, calming the panicked crowd.

Retirement and Legacy

Besanzoni's most famous role was Carmen, and she chose this role for her farewell performance at the Terme di Caracalla theater in Rome in 1939. Her portrayal was so remarkable that some even said she was "untouchable as Carmen." After retiring from the stage, Besanzoni dedicated herself to teaching. She passed away in Rome on June 8, 1962.