Plinio Clabassi
Plinio Clabassi (1919–1984) was an Italian operatic bass particularly associated with the Italian repertoire.[1]
Life and career
Born in Sedegliano, Italy, Plinio Clabassi began to sing very young with the local men chorus of his native city "Cantario Santo Stefano", of which he was also director from 1946 until 1947.[2] During the Second World War, he served in the campaign of Albania. After the war, he joined the Granatieri di Sardegna Mechanized Brigade in Rome. It was during that period that he began his operatic career on local radio broadcasts (RAI).
He soon was invited to sing at most of the opera houses and concert halls throughout Italy. His career of some thirty years would also take him to many European countries, in North and South America, as well as South Africa and Australia. His repertoire was vast ranging from Caldara and Paisiello[3][4] to Pizzetti and Alfano, but he was mostly admired in the 19th century romantic works by composers such as Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, and Puccini.
A basso cantante with a beautiful even voice, he was admired for his scenic intelligence and dignity. He can be heard on several studio and live recordings. Clabassi was married to the opera singer Rina Gigli (the daughter of Beniamino Gigli) and appeared with her on a number of occasions, including a 1966 production of Turandot at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.[5] Plino Clabassi died in San Vito al Tagliamento, on 22 October 1984. In May 2012, a new theatre in his native city was named in his honour.[1]
Selective discography
- 1954 – La forza del destino, Serafin (EMI)
- 1954 – Don Carlo, Santini (EMI)
- 1955 – Madame Butterfly, Karajan (EMI)
- 1955 – Aida, Perlea (RCA)
- 1955 – Rigoletto, Serafin (EMI)
- 1955 – Il Tabarro, Bellezza (EMI)
- 1958 – Anna Bolena, Gavazzeni (Myto)
- 1958 – La forza del destino, Previtali (Decca)
- 1958 – La Gioconda, Previtali (Decca)
- 1961 – Aida, Solti (Decca)
Opera DVDs
- 1956 – La sonnambula (VAI)
- 1957 – Il trovatore (Hardy Classics)
- 1958 – Turandot (VAI)
- 1967 – Lucia di Lammermoor (VAI)
References
- 1 2 Cescutti, Maristella (16 May 2012). "Sabato la festa di inaugurazione del nuovo teatro". Il Messaggero Veneto. Retrieved 17 December 2012 (Italian).
- ↑ Comune di Sedegliano. "Cantoria Santo Stefano". Retrieved 17 December 2012 (Italian).
- ↑ Romains on the Leningrad stage / Soviet Music nr 7, 1966, pp.61-83
- ↑ Photoalbum
- ↑ Forbes, Elizabeth (4 September 2000). "Obituary: Rina Gigli". The Independent. Retrieved 17 December 2012 via Highbeam (subscription required).