Nino Piccaluga (Tenor) (Casorate 1890 - Milano 1973)
He made his debut during October 1918 at the Politeama Duca di Genova in La Spezia in Cavalleria Rusticana. From there he went to Novara to sing during January 1919 in Manon Lescaut at the Teatro Coccia. Engagements followed in Molfetta (Fedora), Salerno (Fedora) during 1919, before leaving for Egypt in 1920. There he sang at the Teatro Khediviale in Cairo in La Fanciulla del West, Tosca and Fedora. He returned to Italy stopping in Ravenna (La Fanciulla del West), Carrara (La Gioconda) and Faenza (Orfeo). During 1920, he starred in the world premiere of the opera by Francesco Balilla Pratella L'Aviatore Dro, appearing besides his wife Augusta Concato, Stabile and Torres de Luna with Guarnieri conducting in Lugo at the Teatro Comunale. He finished the year by appearing in Ferrara, Bologna and Venezia. In 1921, he first appeared in Milan at the Teatro dal Verme during January (Francesca da Rimini). This was followed by appearances in Lisbon (La Gioconda), Rome (Manon Lescaut), Trieste (Francesca da Rimini, In Alta), and Bologna (La Leggenda di Sakuntala). In 1922 he started in Piacenza (La Fanciulla del West), followed by his debut at La Scala (Il Tabarro, Boris Godunov and Cosi Fan Tutte). He finished the year in Novara (Manon Lescaut), Milan (Il Ritorno d'Ulisse, Francesca da Rimini), Antwerp (Concert) before sailing one more time to Cairo during December. There he appeared in Manon Lescaut, Francesca da Rimini, Tosca, Aida, La Fanciulla del West, Cavalleria Rusticana, before moving to Alexandria during March 1923. He sang Aida, La Fanciulla del West, Francesca da Rimini and Cavalleria Rusticana. He returned briefly to Italy in Turin (Fidelio) and Piacenza (Ernani) before going to South America during August. He sang in Santiago, where he added to his repertory Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, Andrea Chenier, Lohengrin, Loreley and L'Amore dei Tre Re. Concurrently he appeared in Valparaiso, before moving on to Concepcion. He returned to Europe during December and appeared at the Liceo in Barcelona (Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Threepenny Opera). He returned to La Scala in January 1924, appearing in Manon Lescaut and La Leggenda di Sakuntala. The rest of 1924 was spent in Melbourne, Sydney (where he added Tamino to his repertory), Adelaide and New Zealand. He returned to Italy early 1925 to appear in Reggio Emilia (March), Carrara, Imola with a detour through Nice. Summer 1925 finds him back in South America (Santiago, Valparaiso, Concepcion). In 1926 he reappeared in Europe singing in Brescia (January), Verona (Teatro Nuovo, March), Monte Carlo (April), Sassari, Cesena (where he added Belmonte, during May, to his repertory), Trento, Imola, Bergamo (adding Turandot to his repertory), Barcelona, and Madrid. In 1927 he limited his appearances to Barcelona, Pesaro, Lecce, Aix- les-Bains and Florence. In 1928, he sang for the first time Silvio (February 12) in Turin. This is followed by appearances in Palermo, Naples, before going to South America. He appeared in Buenos Aires (Teatro Colon), Rio de Janairo. He returned to Europe to visit Berlin, where he recorded for Parlophon. During recording sessions, he appeared in Trieste, before finishing the year in Genoa. His international career continued during January in 1929 in Berlin (Walkure), before going to Riga and Budapest. He returned to Italy appearing in Venice (Teatro Malibran and Teatro Fenice, where he added Eisenstein to his repertory), and Lecce. During December 1929, he appeared for the first time in the US (Los Angeles, where he sang for the first time Il Trovatore; San Diego). During January 1930, he visited San Francisco, appearing at the Columbia Theatre. He briefly returned to Italy (Trieste, adding Loreley to his repertory), before touring Budapest, Athens. December 1930 finds him in Barcelona. In 1931, he appeared in Barcelona, San Remo, Palermo, Florence, Turin, Genoa, Pittsburg, Merano, Bolzano, Ferrara, Milan (Teatro Puccini) and Kansas City. During January 1932, he sang for the first time in Un Ballo in Maschera at the Theatre Carre in Amsterdam. He moved on to Rotterdam, Antwerp, La Haye, before returning to La Scala in March appearing in L'Amore dei Tre Re. The rest of 1932 is spent in Venice, Trieste, Turin, Montecatini, and Cardiff. January 1933 saw him at La Scala in new additions to his repertory (Il Re Cervo and Khovanshchina). He began to slow down and appeared for the rest of 1933 in Abbaza, Ancona, Rome and Casalmaggiore. In 1934 he appeared in Venice, Piacenza, Pola, Verona (Teatro Filarmonico), Ferrara, Genoa, Monza and Budapest. His appearances in 1935 were limited to Amsterdam (adding a new opera to his repertory Die Nachtwacht van Rembrandt), La Haye, Rotterdam, Pamplona and Busto Arsizio. In 1938 at the Teatro Grande in Brescia, he added another work to his repertory La Baronessa di Carinni. He made his farewell at the Teatro Puccini in Milan in Le Prophete. He retired and passed away in Milano on February 3 1973. Piccaluga recorded slightly over 100 sides for Columbia, Pathe, Fonotipia, Odeon, Parlophon and Homokord. His records show a robust, rich, intense voice with a dark timbre. He was an outstanding example of a lirico-spinto tenor of the 1920's and 1930's. His voice showed more squillo than Pertile, Martinelli and Merli. He had a good low range, his middle range was full and strong and his high notes were sure, dependable and exciting. His singing showed great emotion, realism and identification with the role.
Chronology of appearances
1919 Novara Teatro Coccia Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1920 Carrara Politeama Verdi Gioconda (Enzo)
1920 Parma Teatro Regio Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1920 Ancona Teatro delle Muse Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1920 Il Cairo Teatro Khediviale Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1920 Ravenna Teatro Alighieri Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1921 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Ernani (Ernani)
1921 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Gioconda (Enzo)
1921 Piacenza Teatro Municipale Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1921 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1921 Trieste Politeama Rossetti Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1921 Roma Teatro Costanzi Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1922 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1922 Firenze Teatro Verdi Gioconda (Enzo)
1922 Novara Teatro Coccia Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1922 Milano Teatro alla Scala Wally (Hagenbach)
1922 Il Cairo Teatro Khediviale Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1923 Faenza Teatro Masini Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Boheme (Rodolfo)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Loreley (Walter)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Wally (Hagenbach)
1923 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Boheme (Rodolfo)
1923 Alessandria d'Egitto Teatro Alhambra Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1923 Alessandria d'Egitto Teatro Alhambra Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1923 Alessandria d'Egitto Teatro Alhambra Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1923 Il Cairo Teatro Khediviale Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1923 Il Cairo Teatro Khediviale Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1923 Il Cairo Teatro Khediviale Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1923 Conception Teatro Conception Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1923 Conceptcion Teatro Conception Pagliacci (Canio)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1923 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Pagliacci (Canio)
1923 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1923 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Loreley (Walter)
1923 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1923 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Pagliacci (Canio)
1923 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Wally (Hagenbach)
1923 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1923 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Pagliacci (Canio)
1923 Milano Teatro La Scala Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1924 Sidney His Majesty's Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1924 Sidney His Majesty's Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1924 Sidney His Majesty's Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1924 Adelaide Royal Theater Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1924 Adelaide Royal Theater Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1924 Melbourne His Majestic's Theater Boheme (Rodolfo)
1924 Melbourne His Majesty's Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1924 Melbourne His Majesty's Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1924 Adelaide Royal Theater Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1924 Melbourne His Majesty's Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1924 Melbourne His Majesty's Carmen (Don Jose)
1924 Adelaide Royal Theater Boheme (Rodolfo)
1924 Sidney His Majesty's Carmen (Don Jose)
1925 Reggio Emilia Teatro Municipale Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1925 Carrara Politeama Verdi Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1925 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1925 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Carmen (Don Jose)
1925 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1925 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1925 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1925 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1925 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1925 Valparaiso Teatro Victoria Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1925 Conception Teatro Conception Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1925 Conception Teatro Conception Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1926 Sassari Politeama Verdi Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1926 Sassari Politeama Verdi Wally (Hagenbach)
1926 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1926 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1926 Trento Teatro Sociale Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1926 Montecarlo Salle Garnier Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1926 Modena Teatro Municipale Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1927 Aix les Bains Grand Circle Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1927 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1927 Pesaro Teatro Rossini Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1927 Pesaro Arena al Lido Pagliacci (Canio)
1927 Brescia Teatro Grande Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1927 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1928 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Boheme (Rodolfo)
1928 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1928 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Loreley (Walter)
1928 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Carmen (Don Jose)
1928 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1928 Trieste Politeama Rossetti Pagliacci (Canio)
1929 Lecce Politeama Greco Carmen (Don Jose)
1929 Los Angeles Biltmore Theater Carmen (Don Jose)
1929 Los Angeles Biltmore Theater Pagliacci (Canio)
1929 Los Angeles Biltmore Theater Trovatore (Manrico)
1929 San Diego Russ Auditorium Carmen (Don Jose)
1930 San Diego Russ Auditorium Pagliacci (Canio)
1930 San Diego Russ Auditorium Trovatore (Manrico)
1930 San Francisco Columbia Theater Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1930 San Francisco Columbia Theater Trovatore (Manrico)
1930 Sanremo Teatro del Casino Carmen (Don Jose)
1930 Trieste Teatro Verdi Loreley (Walter)
1931 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1931 Viareggio Teatro Eden Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1931 Roma Eiar Carmen (Don Jose)
1931 Firenze Teatro Verdi Pagliacci (Canio)
1931 Firenze Teatro Verdi Trovatore (Manrico)
1931 Genova Politeama Genovese Pagliacci (Canio)
1931 Bolzano Teatro Verdi Trovatore (Manrico)
1931 Merano Teatro Civico Trovatore (Manrico)
1931 Lecce Politeama Greco Trovatore (Manrico)
1931 'S-Gravenhage Gebouw Voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen Pagliacci (Canio)
1932 Amsterdam Teatro Carre Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1932 Amsterdam Teatro Carre Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)
1932 Amsterdam Teatro Carre Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1932 Amsterdam Teatro Carre Pagliacci (Canio)
1932 'S-Gravenhage Gebouw Voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1932 Rotterdam Groote Schouwburg Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1932 Rotterdam Groote Schouwburg Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)
1932 Rotterdam Groote Schouwburg Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1932 Den Haag Gebouw Ballo in Maschera (Riccardo)
1932 Den Haag Gebouw Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1932 Merano Teatro Civico Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1932 Vigevano Teatro Cagnoni Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1932 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Francesca da Rimini (Paolo)
1932 Asti Teatro Alfieri Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1932 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1933 Tortona Teatro Civico Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1933 Milano Politeama Estivo Boheme (Rodolfo)
1933 Milano Politeama Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1933 Roma Teatro Argentina Boheme (Rodolfo)
1933 Roma Teatro Argentina Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1933 Novara Teatro Coccia Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1933 Abbazia Arena Pagliacci (Canio)
1933 Casalmaggiore Teatro Sociale Wally (Hagenbach)
1934 Ferrara Teatro Comunale Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1935 Amsterdam Teatro Carre Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1935 Amsterdam Teatro Carre Boheme (Rodolfo)
1935 Amsterdam Teatro Carre Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1935 Rotterdam Groote Schouwburg Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1935 Rotterdam Groote Schouwburg Boheme (Rodolfo)
1935 Rotterdam Groote Schouwburg Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1935 Deh Haag Gebouw Boheme (Rodolfo)
1935 Deh Haag Gebouw Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1935 Merano Teatro Civico Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1935 Busto Arsizio Teatro Sociale Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1935 Bagnacavallo Politeama Verdi Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1935 Valtournanche/Aperto Wally (Hagenbach)
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Madama Butterfly: Duo act 1, pt I with Cesarina Valobra Homocord H-9100-II
Madama Butterfly: Duo act 1, pt 2 with Cesarina Valobra Homocord H-9100-I
La Fanciulla del West: Or son sei mesi Columbia D9393 70428
La Fanciulla del West: Or son sei mesi Fonotipia 152008 Xph 5282
La Fanciulla del West: Che'lla mi creda Columbia D9393 70260
La Fanciulla del West: Che'lla mi creda Fonotipia 152007 Xph 5275
L'ultima canzone Tosti Columbia D9368 70265
Il Trovatore: Ah! si ben mio Parlophon P. 9846 2-21014
Un Ballo in maschera: La rivedro Parlophon P.8952 2-21129
L'Africana: O paradiso Parlophon P.9845 2-20987
Carmen: Il fior Parlophon P.9845 2-20999
Otello: Ora e per sempre Fonotipia 152005 Xph6012M
Otello: Niun mi tema Odeon 6598 XXPH6208
Otello: Niun mi tema Parlophon P.9846 2-20961
Cavalleria rusticana: Mamma, quel vino e generoso Fonotipia 12161 XXPh6212
Cavalleria rusticana: Brindisi Parlophon P.8952 2-21128
Werther: Ah! non mi ridestar Parlophon P.8913 2-20998
Andrea Chenier: Credo a una possanza Parlophon P. 9847 2-21027-2
Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio Parlophon P.56513 2-21026
Madama Butterfly: Addio fiortio asil Parlophon P8950-I 2-20989
Turandot: Non piangere, Liu Parlophon P. 8916 2-20985
Turandot: Nessun dorma Parlophon P.8916 2-20986
Dejanice: Mio bianco amor Columbia D17544 74819
Pagliacci: No pagliaccio non son Columbia D9390 70418
Manon Lescaut: Tra voi belle Columbia D17545 74822
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai Columbia D5411 74821
Manon Lescaut: Ah! Manon, mi tradisce Columbia D17543 74824
Manon Lescaut: Ah! non v'avvicinate Columbia D17543 74823
La Boheme: Mimi e tanto malata Columbia D9367 70268
Tosca: Recondita armonia Columbia D12354 B779
Tosca: E lucevan le stelle Columbia D12354 B784
