Italian Operatic Tenor. Giovanni Martinelli made some of the most admired recordings in the early history of the gramophone. In his time as today his art was highly praised, though the sound of his voice has always been something of an acquired taste. The eminent commentator J.B. Steane writes that Martinelli's voice on recordings was always, to him, "the most exciting sound on earth: no better than Caruso's, of course, but more fascinating, the possessor of more secrets, a danger and a thrill in it, with a way of imprinting the memory, haunting the dreams, and even being clearly audible in music one never heard him sing." Starting in lyric-dramatic roles he made his operatic debut took place in 1910 at Teatro del Verme as the title lead of Verdi's "Ernani", and was first heard at Covent Garden, London in 1912 and at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1913. Martinelli assumed a heavier dramatic repertory following Enrico Caruso's death in 1921. Verdi's "Otello" became one of Martinelli's most acclaimed interpretations; he gave it at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, with his frequent colleague Lawrence Tibbett as Iago, in 1937. Having experienced some vocal decline, Martinelli retired from performing shortly after a 1941 Metropolitan Otello (which was recorded), only to come again before the public as an opera lecturer in the early 1960's. As late as 1967, however, he was still appearing as the Emperor Altoum from Puccini's "Turandot" making him, as that point, the oldest active opera singer ever. Today, many of his recordings remain in print.
Italian Operatic Tenor. Giovanni Martinelli made some of the most admired recordings in the early history of the gramophone. In his time as today his art was highly praised, though the sound of his voice has always been something of an acquired taste. The eminent commentator J.B. Steane writes that Martinelli's voice on recordings was always, to him, "the most exciting sound on earth: no better than Caruso's, of course, but more fascinating, the possessor of more secrets, a danger and a thrill in it, with a way of imprinting the memory, haunting the dreams, and even being clearly audible in music one never heard him sing." Starting in lyric-dramatic roles he made his operatic debut took place in 1910 at Teatro del Verme as the title lead of Verdi's "Ernani", and was first heard at Covent Garden, London in 1912 and at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1913. Martinelli assumed a heavier dramatic repertory following Enrico Caruso's death in 1921. Verdi's "Otello" became one of Martinelli's most acclaimed interpretations; he gave it at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, with his frequent colleague Lawrence Tibbett as Iago, in 1937. Having experienced some vocal decline, Martinelli retired from performing shortly after a 1941 Metropolitan Otello (which was recorded), only to come again before the public as an opera lecturer in the early 1960's. As late as 1967, however, he was still appearing as the Emperor Altoum from Puccini's "Turandot" making him, as that point, the oldest active opera singer ever. Today, many of his recordings remain in print.
Bio by: Nicole
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