Salvatore Fisichella

" 14 October 1994] [Niny Ganguzza, "Premio <> Nicolosi, Fisichella e una festa per il Cigno", "La Sicilia", p 29, 18 October 1994] [ [http://www.opera-gems.com/reflections.htm Opera Reflections] , Reflections by Gina Sanders, paragraph 6]

Biography

Early years

Ever since he was a child, friends and relatives would urge him to sing to them at family get-togethers. Eager to please and not at all shy, the young Fisichella would end these performances with his pièce de resistance, "‘O Sole Mio'."

At the age of ten, he was already interested in church music and expressed a desire to be schooled at the local seminary where he attended Middle School. The Superiors soon noticed his vocal talent and the ‘boy with the silver voice’, as he was known, soon began singing solos in church services and during small-scale musical productions for special occasions and festivals. It was a sad day for the young Fisichella when the musical director of his early school days, Padre Giosuè Chisari (who would go on to become the chief curator of the Bellini Museum), predicted that his scholar’s rich, full voice would become that of a bass upon hearing him sing a specially adapted version of ‘Suoni la tromba’ whilst accompanying him at the piano. The young Salvatore at once burst into copious tears, sobbing that he would only ever become a tenor, never a bass.

Having left the seminary, Salvatore began secondary education, first at the liceo scientifico to study a science-based curriculum, then moving to study as a surveyor. During this time, he gave little serious thought to singing and his performances were limited to romanze and singsongs with friends and schoolmates.

It was only after he had successfully completed his secondary studies as a qualified surveyor that the moment that would change his life was to arrive. Salvatore had been invited to the wedding of a client for whom he had drawn up the plans of his new home. Disaster struck when the tenor who had agreed to sing at the wedding service was unavoidably detained. The bride, who had specifically requested the "Ave Maria", was so upset that she threatened to go as far as putting off the wedding to another date. Both wedding guests and the anxious groom buttonholed and awaiting his bride at the altar, were panic-stricken. Salvatore promptly offered to take the place of the tardy tenor whose lateness had jeopardised the nuptial union. He sang the part destined for the original tenor voice with unanimously acclaimed success, not least among his admirers being the latecomer himself. And that same evening, he invited Salvatore to sing for his own singing teacher, Sara Messina, who was quick to predict a successful future in the singing world.

Vocal training

At that time, Catania was home to a number of good singing teachers and Fisichella chose one who was considered to be both costly and demanding. Maria Gentile, the renowned Catanese soprano, set Fisichella to work for six years.

The years under Gentile were a time of both trials and dreams, above all when Fisichella found himself listening to the great opera names of the day (Mario Del Monaco, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Franco Corelli, Carlo Bergonzi, Gianni Raimondi et al.). This was also the time when the young tenor, together with other pupils, began performing in the small concerts, which were arranged by their teacher.

After studying under Maria Gentile, Fisichella studied further in Rome under Ricci and Paoletti. [ [http://www.opera-gems.com/reflections.htm Opera Gems] Reflections by Gina Sanders, par 1]

Operatic career

1970s

Fisichella won the XXIV Concorso Lirico Adriano Belli - the prestigious competition held in Spoleto, for his performances of the opera pieces "I puritani", "La favorite" and "Rigoletto".

Spoleto was also the venue for Fisichella’s debut performance in the leading role of Massenet’s "Werther" conducted by Ottavio Ziino. The production toured the whole of Italy.

1971 saw him engaged by the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma for two performances of "Rigoletto" and no less than seven performances of "I puritani" conducted by Armando La Rosa Parodi with Mirella Freni and Cornell MacNeil. In the same year, he also performed at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo alongside Leyla Gencer in "Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra" conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni. A year later, he was called upon again by the Opera di Roma, this time to work with Mirella Freni and Ghiaurov in Gounoud’s "Faust" conducted by George Pretre. April 1973 saw his debut performance at the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, working with Lidia Marimpietri in a production of "La bohème" conducted by Zoltan Pesko.

In 1973, Fisichella took part in "Elisa e Claudio" at the Festival Mercadantiano in Altamura. In Pesaro in 1975, he was seen to be the only tenor able to face the challenges of Rossini’s "Messa di Gloria", a score avoided by many of the bel canto elite. [ [http://www.opera-gems.com/reflections.htm Opera-gems] , Reflections by Gina Sanders, Anecdotes par 2]

1980s

In 1983, he performed in a production of "La bohème" with Katia Ricciarelli. In 1984, he sang with Buna Baglioni, Giorgio Zancanaro and Bonaldo Giaiotti at the State Theatre of Bern in Donizetti’s "La favorite" conducted by Nello Santi. On this occasion, the critic of Der Bund defined Fisichella as “currently the best tenor singer of the Donizetti and Bellini repertoire”, a definition that was taken up by the New York periodical Opera News. It was around this time that Fisichella began to collaborate with Nello Santi, the maestro who would encourage the tenor to take up the challenging roles of "I puritani", "La Gioconda", "Guglielmo Tell", "La nuit de mai", "Rigoletto", "Il pirata", and the "Messa di Requiem". In the same year, Fisichella performed Rossini’s "Stabat Mater" at the Konzerthaus in Vienna. In 1985, he once again played Arturo in "I puritani" (this time singing alongside the soprano Edita Gruberova and baritone Giorgio Zancanaro, with the conductor Masini at the Bregenz Festival. Dortmund also saw him play Arturo. Again in 1985, Fisichella performed for the Radio Berlin concert to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vincenzo Bellini’s death.

In November 1986, Fisichella performed the role of Arturo in "I puritani" at his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York, together with the soprano Joan Sutherland. The performance created a stir among the New York press and is proclaimed an unprecedented success. [ [http://www.opera-gems.com/reflections.htm Opera Gems] Reflections by Gina Sanders, par 2]

1990s

Fisichella’s vocal range, flexibility and incisive phrasing have led the singer to branch out beyond the bel canto repertoire into verismo, as, for example, in his 1988 performance of "La Gioconda" at the inauguration of the Teatro Regio di Torino. [ [http://www.opera-gems.com/reflections.htm Opera Gems] Reflections by Gina Sanders, par 3] He performed the role of Mario Cavaradossi in "Tosca" at the XXXVI Puccini Festival in the summer of 1990.

Fisichella was one of the performers at the Megaconcert held in Verona Arena (Concert of Tenors) to commemorate the centenary of Beniamino Gigli’s birth, (Corriere della Sera 29/8/1990). He was seen playing the role of Edgardo in "Lucia di Lammermoor" at La Scala in Milan in May 1992.

In 1995, Fisichella performed in the production of Bellini’s "La favorite" broadcast live on Italian National Radio. He performed together with Leo Nucci in "Rigoletto" at the Zurich Opera House, as conducted by Nello Santi. The production was later taken to the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Together with Katia Ricciarelli, Fisichella was invited to the closing concert of the Homage to Pietro Mascagni celebrations organised in Vizzini to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mascagni’s death. The concert took place against the natural backdrop to "Cavelleria Rusticana".

He performed Verdi’s "Requiem" in Solingen with The MGV Wupperhorf Choir 1812, of which he is an honourary member. On this occasion, Fisichella performed together with Rybarska, Baglioni, and Nesterenko and the concert was recorded on CD.

In 1996, Fisichella returned to Tokyo for a production of "La traviata" with June Anderson. The same year saw him perform in Mario Monicelli’s centenary production of "La bohème" at the 42nd Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago.

Fisichella performed three concerts of Verdi’s "Requiem" conducted by Nello Santi at the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona and the Teatro Sociale in Mantua. 1997 saw him return to the Zurich Opernhaus to perform "Rigoletto", alternating with Nucci and Zancanaro.

On the occasion of the inaugural concerts for the newly restored Teatro Massimo in Palermo, he performed together with Gasdia, Casolla, and Peterson in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony conducted by Neschling. He sang again with Nucci in "La traviata" and the "Requiem Mass" at the III Festival d’Opera d’Avence. At the VII Classical Open Air Festival in Solothurn, he performed with Nucci both in "La bohème" and "Rigoletto". Another engagement followed at "Verona’s Teatro Filarmonico" where he sang the challenging piece by Verdi - "Inno delle nazioni", conducted by Maurizio Arena.

The Cathedral of Catania saw him perform Geremia’s unpublished "Missa Pro Defunctis 1809" and Bellini’s "Messa Seconda in G minor" with Katia Ricciarelli. The concert was conducted by Douglas Bostock and was recorded for Classico records. In 1998, Fisichella was again to sing with Katia Ricciarelli, this time performing in three large-scale New Year’s concerts organised by the Sicilian Regional Authorities. He also performed in Teatro Massimo Bellini’s production of "Rigoletto" in Catania (with Nucci and Pace, conducted by Nello Santi) and in the "Concerto Dei Grandi Tenori Siciliani" organised by the same theatre. This was the period in which Fisichella was presented with the Gigli D’Oro award at the second "Una vita per la Musica" event held in Recanati, the native town of the tenor himself. In 1999, Fisichella was once again invited to perform at the Puccini Festival in a production of "La bohème". The same year saw Fisichella, together with two fellow performers, in a memorable open air "Concerto Sotto Le Stelle" in Recanati, singing in the same square where Gigli had so often entertained his home public.

2000s

In Johnstown (Pittsburgh, U.S.A.), Fisichella received a welcome in the awaited annual concerto-festival at the Pasquarilla Center. 2000 continued with performances of "Macbeth" at the Teatro Massimo in Catania, "Madame Butterfly" at the Puccini Festival, and a production of "La bohème" at the Den Norske Opera in Oslo. Fisichella opened the new millennium with two concerts in Beijing, one on New Year’s Eve, the other on New Years’ Day. On this occasion, he had the honour of being the only European singer invited to perform with the three largest choirs and orchestras of China. During the Anno Belliano celebrations, he was a contributor together with Lucia Aliberti and Roberto Frontali in "Teatro Massimo Bellini’s" production of "Il pirata" in Catania.

Between 2001 to 2005, the tenor performed various operas, concerts & recitals around Europe. In 2001, he performed "Rigoletto" in both the Opera Gala at the Stadttheater, St. Gallen, and also at the Festival of Openair Solothurn. In October, the tenor went on to give four performances of "Tosca" in Ooppera in Helsinki and sang "Capuleti ei Montecchi" at the Den Norske Opera in Oslo. In November, he gave two performances of "I puritani" in a "Bellinianino Concert" at the Grand Theatre, Łódź, "La bohème" and "Madama Butterfly" at the Hungarian State Opera House’s Puccini Festival together with Ilona Tokody and Tamas Busa.

In 2002, Fisichella taught at the "5th International Vocal Masterslass" held in Akademia Muzyczna in Gdansk. He also gave several performanaces in the "Galakonzert" at the Baltic Opera Theater and the Festival of Openair Solothurn, in the months of May and July respectively. Also in 2002, he staged a concert at the Opera in Minsk.

He was once again in the "Openair Solothurn" in July 2003 playing "Rigoletto" and "Faust". In August, he participated in the "Concert Vocale" held in the Noto Music Festival.In the months of March, April and May of 2004, he was contracted to play as Pollione in "Norma", together with Gabriella Morigi, Riikka Rantanen, Serena Farnocchia, Ilkka Vihavainen and Hannu Forsberg. This was directed by the soprano Renata Scotto and conducted by Alberto Hold-Garrido. In September, he staged a "Lirico Concert" together with the soprano Chiara Taigi in Berne Theatre.

In July 2005, he was seen playing "Faust", together with Svetozar Rangelov and Tsvetana Bandalovska at the Openair Solothurn, with Nayden Todorov as conductor. Also in July, Fisichella rendered a "Concert Lirico", conducted by Giorgio Croci at the National Opera and Ballet Sofia.

Accolades, awards and distinctions

* 1970 &ndash; XXIV Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto “Adriano Belli” [ [http://www.tls-belli.it/vincitori_1947_2006.htm Winners of the competition since 1947] , Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto “Adriano Belli”. Accessed 12 September 2008]
* 21 August 1977 &ndash; "Polifemo D'Argento", Pride of Sicily award
*1984 &ndash; "Manifestazcione Pucciniane", Puccini festival
* 27 August 1986 &ndash; "Orfeo Musicale"
* 10 December 1989 &ndash; "Membro Onorario MGV Wuppehuf Choir 1812", Solingen. (Honorary membership of MGV Wupperhof Choir 1812)
* 5 September 1990 &ndash; "Chiostro D'Argento"
* 26 September 1990 &ndash; "Premio Mafalda Favero 1990"
* 3 January 1991 &ndash; "Targa Bel Canto" Biancavilla (Catania) "Bel Canto Shield"
* 13 July 1991 &ndash; "Premio Internazionale Vincenzo Bellini" "Vincenzo Bellini International Prize"
* 16 October 1994 &ndash; "XV Bellini D’Oro 1994", awarded by the Sicilian Tourist Authority at the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania with the following commentary::"Salvatore Fisichella continues in the great singing tradition of the provinces around Etna. Gifted with extraordinary ease of voice and vocal brilliance, especially in the top range and extreme top range as demanded by Bellini’s scores, he is worthy of full honours as being the only tenor of this century to have played and sung the major opera roles of the cigno catanese Bellini." ["XV Bellini Bellini D’oro 1994" Bellini Prize - Awarded by the Sicilian Tourist Authority on 16 October 1994, "Le motivazioni del premio": "Continuatore ideale della grande tradizione vocale della provincia etnea, Salvatore Fisichella, dotato di straordinaria facilita e lucenterra, specie nel registro acuto e sovacuto, per come postura la scrittura musicale belliniana, risulta meritevole a pieno titolo del riconoscimento, per essere stato l'unico tenore del secolo ad aver interpretato in teatro i maggiori ruoli lirici del repertorio del Cigno catanese"] [Libro: Premio Bellini D'Oro 1994, Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania, 16 Ottobre 1994 Azienda Autonoma Provinciale Per L'Incremento Turistico] ["Il Bellini d'oro a due catanesi la cerimonia avverra domani", di Niny Ganguzza, La Sicilia 14 Oct 1994] ["Premio <> Nicolosi, Fisichella e una festa per il Cigno", di Niny Ganguzza, La Sicilia, p 29, 18 Oct 1994]
* 17 December 1994 &ndash; "VIII Premio Internazionale Giacomo Lauri Volpi" International Prize
* 18 August 1996 &ndash; "XVI Premio Castagno Di Cento Cavalli"
* 24 November 1996 &ndash; "Premio Nuraghe D’oro Alla Carriera", Cagliari
* 21 December 1996 &ndash;"Cavaliere Della Repubblica Italiana" for "Artistic Merit"
* 1 November 1998 &ndash; "Gigli D’Oro" 2nd edition, Una vita per la musica, Recanati (A lifetime of Music Prize) with the following commentary: :"Admirable descendant of a plethora of great voices, Fisichella’s refined singing and generous sensitivity play their part in the worldwide repute of Italian bel canto." [“Gigli D’Oro” 2nd edition -Una vita per la musica – Recanati ‘A lifetime of Music’ Prixe - Plaque]
*25 October 1999 &ndash; "Premio Internazionale Di Siciliana, Pigna D’Argento" with the following commentary: :"The voice of the Catanese singer Salvatore Fisichella is without doubt one of the most interesting among post-war opera singers. With particular expertise in 19th century repertoire he has played the highest number of tenor roles inspired by the genius - his great compatriot Vincenzo Bellini. With top notes that are both clear and bright and a solid mid range, Fisichella holds the standard of bel canto singing high, performing scores that are often little heard due to their demanding nature. Continuing in the splendid tradition of the great Sicilian opera singers before him with performances in all the major theatres of the world, he has already numerous international awards to his name. Almost thirty years since his debut, Fisichella continues to maintain an enviable vocal freshness thanks to skillful technique and intelligent career choices." [“Premio Internazionale Di Siciliana’- Pigna D’Argento” - Plaque]
*30 October 1999 &ndash; "Cavaliere Del Supremo Ordine Di Malta OSY – USA OF KRAC"
*19 June 2001 &ndash; "Premio Internazionale Sicilia Il Paladino" with the following commentary::"For exceptional merit in opera and for raising the international prestige of the bel canto tradition."' [“Premio Internazionale Sicilia Il Paladino” - Plaque]
* 7 April 2003 &ndash; "Beniamino Gigli Muistokonsertti Prize" awarded by Finnish National Opera, Helsinki. [ [http://www.gigli.fi/cms/fi/konsertit-konserttiluotettelo List of Muistokonsertti Prize winners 1987-2008] , Suomen Beniamino Gigli (Beniamino Gigli Association of Finland). Accessed 26 July 2008]

The Voice

Fisichella has a full lyric tenor voice. Following a brief outline of Fisichella’s career, the "Dictionary of Opera" by Harold Rosenthal and John Warrack, concludes that Fisichella’s is "...a voice that has remained intact after 25 years of singing, quite simply the most lovely tone of the Italian tenors of our day." [Dictionary of Opera by Harold Rosenthal & John Warrack, edited by Roland Mancini & J.J. Rouveroux (Arthem Fayard, 1995)]

Repertoire

* "Attila"
* "Beatrice di Tenda"
* "Elisa e Claudio" (Mercadante)
* "Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra"
* "Faust"
* "Guglielmo Tell"
* "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" (Romeo)
* "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" (Tebaldo)
* "I puritani"
* "Il pirata"
* "La bohème"
* "La favorite"
* "La Gioconda"
* "La nuit de mai - Poème Symphonique" (Leoncavallo)
* "La straniera"
* "La traviata"
* "Lucia di Lammermoor"
* "Lucrezia Borgia"
* "Luisella" (Mannino)
* "Macbeth"
* "Madama Butterfly"
* "Mefistofele"
* "Messa di Gloria" (Rossini)
* "Missa pro defunctis" (Geremia)
* "Missa seconda in sol min" (Bellini)
* "Mosè in Egitto"
* "Nabucco"
* "Nelson Mass" (Haydn)
* "Norma"
* "Otello" (Rossini)
* "Messa di Requiem" (Verdi)
* "Rigoletto"
* "Roberto Devereux"
* "Stabat Mater" (Rossini)
* "The Two Widows" (Smetana)
* "Tosca"
* "Werther" (Massenet]

Discography

* "Rossini: Otello" - Philips 6769081
* "Rossini: Mose en Egitto" – Philips 6769023
* "Sternstunden der Musik" – Aul 30522/23 S. F.
* "Jussi Björling Memorial Concert" – Swedish Society Discofil SLT 33275/6
* "Salvatore Fisichella Volume 1" – Felmain Records FM 14
* "Salvatore Fisichella Volume 2" – Felmain Records FM 14
* "Die Wuperhorfer Salvatore Fisichella" – Liederabend Operagala
* "I Grandi Interpretti della Lirica – Salavatore Fisichella" – Felmain Records
* "Weihnachtliches Konzert die Wupperhofer"
* "La nuit de mai"
* "Verdi: Messa di Requiem"
* "Bellini: Messa nº 2, Geremia: Missa Pro Defunctis"
* "Bellini: I puritani" – Serenissima
* "Tenor Arias Volume 1"
* "Concert of Tenors – Arena di Verona 1990" (in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Beniamino Gigli's birth)
* "Mose – Preghiera" – Philips CD
*"Le Voci dell’Etna" – Tima Club 74

Radio productions

* "Werther" (Massenet) &ndash; 1970 (RAI, Spoleto)
* Operatic Concert &ndash; 1971 (RAI, Milan)
* Concert – 18th century opera &ndash; 1972 (RAI, Naples)
* "The Two Widows" (Smetana) &ndash; 1974 (RAI, Milan)
* "Messa di Gloria" (Rossini) &ndash; 1976 (RSI, Lugano)
* "Messa di Gloria" (Rossini) &ndash; 1982 (RSI, Lugano)
* "Stabat Mater" (Rossini) &ndash; 1984 (ORF, Vienna)
* Concerto Belliniano &ndash; 1985 (Radio Berlin)
* "Guglielmo Tell" (Rossini) &ndash 1986 (DRS, Radio Basel)
* Concerto Verismo &ndash; 1989 (DRS, Radio Basel)
* "Stabat Mater" (Rossini) &ndash; 1989 (DRS, Radio Basel)
* "La nuit de mai" (Leoncavallo) &ndash; 1990 (RSI, Lugano)
* "La favorite" (Donizetti) &ndash; 1995 (RAI, Catania)

Television productions

*Jussi Björling Memorial &ndash; 1985 (Stockholm)
*"I puritani" (Bellini) &ndash; 1985 (ORF, Bregenz-Festival)
*"Guglielmo Tell" (Rossini) &ndash; 1988 (Condor, Opernhaus-Zurich)
* Concerto Per Il Centenario &ndash; 1990 (RAI 1, Teatro Bellini-Catania)
* "La nuit de mai" (Leoncavallo) &ndash; 1990 (RSI, Lugano)
* My Favorite Opera: "Guglielmo Tell" &ndash; 1993 (Film/RSI, Lugano)
* "La favorite" (Donizetti), Teatro Massimo Bellini &ndash; 1995 (Catania)

References

*Rosenthal, Harold and John Warrack. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera, edited by Roland Mancini & J.J. Rouveroux (Arthem Fayard, 1995)
* [http://www.grandi-tenori.com/tenors/fisichella/ Tenor Library on "Grandi Tenori"]

ources

* [http://www.operissimo.com/ Opera and Concert Database] , Operissimo Concertissimo
* [http://www.opera-gems.com/reflections.htm Opera Gems] , Salvatore Fisichella - Repertoire
* [http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/#IMAGE CLOR Catalogue download] , Discography, "Singer Index" lists "Salvatore Fisichella" with 11 recordings in which he takes part in.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
]
* [http://www.salvatorefisichella.it/discography.html Salvatore Fisichella Discography]
* [http://www.puccinifestival.it/braille/eng/sezioni.asp?idcat=1&idsez=15 Puccini Festival 1990 and 2000] 1904-2007 List for Madama Butterfly

External links

* [http://www.salvatorefisichella.it Official web site]
* [http://www.grandi-tenori.com/articles/articles_fisichella_otello.php "Grandi Tenori" Articles & Reviews] A reflection on Rossini's and Verdi's "Otello"
* [http://www.opera-gems.com/OurGuestofHonourtenorSalvatoreFisichellareflectsonhisfascinationforBellinismusicsincec.html "Opera Gems"] Featured Bits
*imdb name|0279915