Giovanni Zenatello

Giovanni Zenatello (2 February, 1876 - 11 February, 1949) was an Italian opera singer. He was born in Verona.

His music teacher in Verona originally tried to train him as a baritone, but Zenatello was destined to became an internationally acclaimed tenor. He made his professional debut as a baritone in 1898 and his debut as a tenor the following year. On February 17, 1904, he created the role of Pinkerton in the world premiere of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" at La Scala. Zenatello matured into a clarion-voiced dramatic tenor, eventually becoming the world's greatest performer of Giuseppe Verdi's "Otello". He performed this taxing role more than 300 times during his career. His 1926 recording of Otello's entrance, the "Esultate", is probably unsurpassed and attests to his incredible voice and style in this role. After his final stage appearance (in New York City) in 1933, he retired from opera and taught singing. Lily Pons was one of his pupils.

Zenatello lived with mezzo-soprano Maria Gay from 1906 until her death in 1943. They were often described as husband and wife, though they may never have actually married.

In 1913 Zenatello was instrumental in getting Verona's Ancient Roman arena restored and used as a site for putting on opera. That year the arena mounted a grand production of "Aida", marking the centenary of Verdi's birth. In 1947, Zenatello arranged for a young Maria Callas to appear at Verona in Ponchielli's "La Gioconda".

Zenatello died in New York City.

Roles created

*1903: Vassili in Siberia (Giordano).

References

*Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), "The Oxford Dictionary of Opera", 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5