Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

June 26, 1875 in Casalecchio di Reno, Italy

Death

:

October 10, 1955 in Rome, Italy

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Riccardo Stracciari was an Italian baritone who was born on August 26, 1875, in Bologna, Italy. He was the son of a shoemaker and grew up in a working-class family. Stracciari showed an early interest in music and began singing in the choir of his local church. He later studied at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna, where he received vocal training from the renowned baritone, Giuseppe Kaschmann. Stracciari made his operatic debut in 1899 at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, where he sang the role of Silvio in Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci." He quickly gained a reputation as a talented singer and was soon invited to perform at other major opera houses throughout Italy. In 1904, he made his debut at La Scala in Milan, where he sang the role of Marcello in Puccini's "La Bohème." Over the next few years, Stracciari continued to perform at La Scala and other major opera houses in Italy, including the Teatro San Carlo in Naples and the Teatro Regio in Turin. He also began to perform internationally, making his debut at the Royal Opera House in London in 1908 and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1913. One of Stracciari's most famous roles was that of Figaro in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville." He first performed the role in 1909 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome and went on to perform it many times throughout his career. He was also known for his performances in Verdi's operas, including "Rigoletto," "La Traviata," and "Falstaff." In addition to his operatic performances, Stracciari also gave recitals and performed in concerts. He was particularly known for his interpretations of Italian art songs and was praised for his beautiful voice and expressive singing style. Throughout his career, Stracciari received many awards and honors. In 1913, he was awarded the title of "Cavaliere" by the Italian government for his contributions to the arts. He was also awarded the title of "Commendatore" in 1928. In 1935, he was awarded the prestigious "Premio Mussolini" for his contributions to Italian culture. Despite his success, Stracciari faced some challenges in his personal life. He was married twice and had several children, but his first marriage ended in divorce. He also struggled with financial difficulties at times, particularly during the economic hardships of the 1920s and 1930s. Stracciari continued to perform throughout the 1930s and 1940s, but his career was interrupted by World War II. He was forced to flee Italy in 1943 due to his opposition to the fascist regime, and he spent several years in Switzerland before returning to Italy after the war. In his later years, Stracciari continued to perform and teach. He was appointed as a professor of singing at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 1950 and held the position until his death in 1955. Riccardo Stracciari was a talented and highly respected baritone who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His beautiful voice and expressive singing style earned him a devoted following, and his performances continue to be celebrated today. Despite facing personal and financial challenges, Stracciari remained dedicated to his art and left a lasting legacy in the world of opera.

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