The famous Irish tenor began his studies in Dublin and in 1905 went to Milan to take further lessons with Vincenzo Sabatini. He made his stage début under the assumed name of Giovannin Foli in 1906 in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz at the Teatro Chiabrera in Savona, near Genoa. He returned to England and appeared at Covent Garden, at first as Turiddu in the autumn season of 1907, also in Rigoletto and as Don Ottavio. In the following year he appeared in the international summer season, returning every year until World War I. He made both his New York début (at the Manhattan Opera, 1909) and his Metropolitan début (1910) as Alfredo in La traviata. Between 1910 and 1918 he appeared six times with the Metropolitan during five seasons, and more often with the Boston and Chicago companies. By his own admission a poor actor, he soon abandoned the stage and devoted himself to hugely successful recitals. He made numerous recordings, mostly during his brief operatic career, which show the sweetness of his tone and the perfection of his style and technique in his prime.
|
