Libero de Luca
19 March 1913 Kreuzlingen – 4 August 1997
In RA format
In RA format
Libero de Luca was a typical exponent of Swiss multiculturality: an Italian name, but a German speaker (hence de Luca and not De Luca),
eventually becoming a primarily French singer.
Biography
He first studied architecture, then voice with Max Kraus in Munich, later with Alfredo Cairati in Zürich. After winning a
few singing competitions, he made his debut at the municipal theater of Solothurn in 1940. After one season in Bern (1942/43),
he became Zürich's star tenor from 1943 to 1949. From 1944, he also sang a lot in Geneva as a guest.
After the war, he embarked on an international career, appearing in Munich, Vienna, Brussels, London, Naples and Buenos
Aires. In 1949, he got a contract as first tenor both at the Opéra-Comique and the Opéra in Paris, where he
excelled, above all, in the French repertoire (Faust, Roméo et Juliette, Les pêcheurs de perles, Mignon, Manon,
Lakmé, Carmen), but also in the Italian (Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, Traviata).
But he sang a lot of other music, too: operetta (early in his career), Florestan, Max, Tom Rakewell, Vladimir Igorevich, the
Prince in L'amour des trois oranges, Jeník, Matteo in Arabella, the Italian Singer, Manrico, Cavaradossi,
Edgardo, Werther, Tamino, Ferrando, Belmonte, Horace in
Venus by Schoeck, and even in two world premieres: Cléanthe in Der unsterbliche Kranke by Hans Haug
(Zürich 1947) and Ruech in Die schwarze Spinne by Willy Burkhard (Zürich 1949).
He gave up his career in 1961, moved to Horn on Lake Constance and taught.
Reference: Andreas Kotte (ed.), Theaterlexikon der Schweiz, Zürich 2005
Discography
78 rpm
His master's voice, Zürich 1940
OZA 397-1 Voce di strada (Bixio) dal film Cantate con me HE603
OZA 398-2 Cantate con me (Bixio) dal film Cantate con me HE603
His master's voice, Zürich 1941
OZA 428-2 Peppina bella (Paredo) HE618, HE600
OZA 429-1 Voglio volare (Paredo) HE600
OZA 540 Sul campanile del duomo (Poletto) HE606
OZA 541 La fiaba di Biancastella (Mazzoli) HE606
OZA 566 La ticinella (Zanzi) HE618, HE608
OZA 567 La ferrovia del generoso (Keller) HE608
Columbia
CZ 1716 Maremma (trad) ZZ 1200
CZ 1717 Blau leuchtet das Meer (i.e. Vieni sul mar) (Califano) ZZ 1200
CZ 1720 Ein Mädel und eine Harmonika (Galfetti) ZZ 1201
CZ 1721 Ich möcht' so gerne wissen (Galfetti) ZZ 1201
Decca Radio, Zürich
ARS 92-I La bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina K 28182, K 2297
ARS 93 La bohème (Puccini): Sì, mi chiamano Mimì (w Judith Hellwig) K 28182, K 2297
Polydor
6694SS Mein Herz ist erwacht (i.e. Lola Montez) (Auric) 50126
6695SS Jedes Herz liegt dir zu Füßen (after Dvořák) 50126
6700 SS Giuditta (Lehár): Du bist meine Sonne 50174, 45 rpm: 23174, E 76532
6701 SS Giuditta (Lehár): Freunde, das Leben ist lebenswert 50174, 45 rpm: 23174
06711LSN Wiener Blut (Strauß): Medley pt 1 (w Lindermeier, Schörg, Hofmann) 58635
06712LSN Wiener Blut (Strauß): Medley pt 2 (w Lindermeier, Schörg, Hofmann) 58635
45 rpm
Deutsche Grammophon
30115 Carmen (Bizet): Hier an dem Herzen treu geborgen
Aida (Verdi): Holde Aida
Berlin, 1955-11-15
30116 Carmen (Bizet): La fleur que tu m'avais jetée
Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida
Berlin, 1955-11-15
32132 La favorite (Donizetti): Spirto gentil
Berlin, 1955-11-15
Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss): Di rigori armato
Berlin, 1955-11-14
32227 Allerseelen (Strauss)
Berlin, 1955-11-15
Traum durch die Dämmerung (Strauss)
Berlin, 1956-10-22
30339 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah lêve-toi, soleil
(also on EPL 30338)
Complete operas or selections
Così fan tutte ( Mozart)
Fiordiligi – Suzanne Danco
Dorabella – Giulietta Simionato
Despina – Marisa Morel
Ferrando – Libero de Luca
Guglielmo – Marcello Cortis
Don Alfonso – Mariano Stabile
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Choeur du Grand Théâtre de Genève
conductor – Karl Böhm
live recording, 14 January 1949 Geneva
Black Disc: Rodolphe RP 12456-12458 (3 LPs)
Compact Disc: Urania Archivio Storico URN 22.121 (2 CDs); Walhall Eternity Series WLCD 0067 (2 CDs);
Urania 22.360 (2 CDs)
Die Zauberflöte (Mozart): excerpts
(the chorus sings in French and the soloists in German)
Tamino – Libero de Luca
Papageno – Fritz Ollendorf
Königin der Nacht – Adrienne Miglietti
Pamina – Lisa Della Casa
Sarastro – Emanuel List
Monostatos – William Wernigk
Papagena – Magda Gabory
Erste Dame – Colette Lorand
Zweite Dame – Margrit von Syben
Dritte Dame – Lise de Montmollin
Erster Knabe – Margrit Chytil
Zweiter Knabe – Doris Suter
Dritter Knabe – Nadine Wolf
Erster Geharnischter – Claude Perran
Zweiter Geharnischter – Paul Tornwald
Sprecher – Jacques Roland
Erster Priester – Maurice Emonet
Zweiter Priester – Paul Tornwald
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Choeur du Grand Théâtre de Genève
conductor – Karl Böhm
live recording, 25 September 1949 Geneva
Compact Disc: Cascavelle RSR 6147
Carmen (Bizet)
Carmen – Suzanne Juyol
Don José – Libero de Luca
Micaëla – Janine Micheau
Escamillo – Julien Giovannetti
Frasquita – Denise Boursin
Mercédès – Jacqueline Cauchard
Le Dancaïre – Jean Vieuille
Le Remendado – Serge Rallier
Moralès – Marcel Enot
Zuniga – Henri Médus
Lillas Pastia – Pierre Germain
orchestra and chorus: Opéra-Comique de Paris
conductor – Albert Wolff - 1951(STU)
studio recording, June 1951 Paris
Black Disc: Decca LXT 2615-2617 (3 LPs); London LLP-437 (3 LPs);
Richmond RS 63006 (3 LPs); IPG 115092 (3 LPs)
Compact Disc: Preiser Records 20016 (2 CDs); Hamburger Archiv für Gesangskunst 30004 (2 CDs)
Manon (Massenet)
Manon – Janine Micheau
Poussette – Claudine Collart
Javotte – Jacqueline Cauchard
Rosette – Agnès Disney
Le Chevalier des Grieux – Libero de Luca
Lescaut – Roger Bourdin
Le Comte des Grieux – Julien Giovannetti
Guillot de Morfontaine – Jean-Christophe Benoit
De Brétigny – Guy Gondin
L'Hôtelier – Pierre Germain
1er Garde – Serge Rallier
2e Garde – Serge Rallier
orchestra and chorus: Opéra-Comique de Paris
conductor – Albert Wolff
studio recording, 1951 Paris
Black Disc: Decca LXT 2618-2620 (3 LPs); London LLPA-7 (3 LPs); London A 4305 (3 LPs)
Compact Disc: Preiser Records 20013 (2 CDs)
Les pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): excerpts
Leila – Janine Micheau
Nadir – Libero de Luca
Zurga – Jean Borthayre
Orchestre de la Societé des Concerts du Conservatoire
conductor – Alberto Erede
studio recording, October 1953 Paris
Black Disc: Decca LXT 2789; Decca Ace of Clubs ACL 276; London LL 939
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): excerpt in Italian
on a Mado Robin recital LP
Sulla tomba ... Verranno a te
Lucia – Mado Robin
Edgardo – Libero de Luca
Alisa – Genéviéve Serres
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
conductor – Richard Blareau
studio recording, 1953 (?)
Black Disc: Decca LXT 2898; London LL 922
Edipo Re (Leoncavallo), performed in German
Edipo – Ernst Gutstein
Giocasta – Edith Lang
Creonte – Libero de Luca
Un corinto – Manfred Röhrl
Tiresia – Peter Lagger
Un pastore – Wolfram Merty
Una guardia – Peter Suter
orchestra and chorus: Radio Beromünster Bern
conductor – Nello Santi
radio recording, 1960
Black Disc: The Golden Age of Opera EJS 491
Don Carlo (Verdi), performed in German
Don Carlo – Libero de Luca
Filippo II – Josef Greindl
Rodrigo – Hugo Hasslo
Il Grande Inquisitore – Hans Herbert Fiedler
Un frate – Sigmund Roth
Elisabetta di Valois – Aase Nordmo-Løvberg
La principessa Eboli – Dagmar Hermann
Tebaldo – Dorothea Georgi
Il conte di Lerma – Helmut Kretschmar
Un araldo reale – Helmut Kretschmar
Una voce dal cielo – Rita Streich
Sinfonieorchester und Chor des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks
conductor – Wilhelm Schüchter
radio recording, 1953
Compact Disc: Relief 1922 (2 CDs)
La bohème (Puccini), performed in German
Rodolfo – Libero de Luca
Schaunard – Hermann Prey
Marcello – Horst Günter
Colline – Sigmund Roth
Mimì – Hjördis Schymberg
Musetta – Valerie Bak
The cast also includes Karl Otto and Kurt Marschner.
Orchester und Chor des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks
conductor – Eugen Szenkár
radio recording, 1953
Compact Disc: Walhall Eternity Series WLCD 0110 (2 CDs); Cantus Classics 500820 (2 CDs)
Rigoletto (Verdi), performed in German
Rigoletto – Josef Metternich
Gilda – Mimi Coertse
Duca di Mantova – Libero de Luca
Sparafucile – Gottlob Frick
Maddalena – Ira Malaniuk
Orchester und Chor des Westdeutschen Rundfunks
conductor – Mario Rossi
radio recording, 1956
Compact Disc: Walhall WLCD 0193 (2 CDs)
Joseph (Méhul), performed in German
Jakob – Alexander Welitsch
Joseph – Libero de Luca
Simeon – Horst Günter
Benjamin – Ursula Zollenkopf
Ruben – Rolf Kunz
Utobal – Arnold van Mill
Naphtali – Günter Genersch
Sinfonieorchester und Chor des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks
conductor – Wilhelm Schüchter
radio recording, 1955 Hamburg and Stuttgart
Compact Disc: Gala GL 100.753, Melodram MEL 160
Werther (Masssenet): excerpts in German
Werther – Libero de Luca
Charlotte – Helene Werth
Sinfonieorchester des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks
conductor – Jules Gressier
radio recording, 1954
Compact Disc: Gala GL 100.753, Melodram MEL 160
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): excerpts in German
Canio – Libero de Luca
Nedda – Erna Berger
Silvio – Hans Braun
Sinfonieorchester und Chor des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks
conductor – Wilhelm Schüchter
radio recording, 1953
Compact Disc: Gala GL 100.753, Melodram MEL 160
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): excerpts in German
Canio – Libero de Luca
Nedda – Erna Berger
Tonio – Hermann Prey
Silvio – Hans Braun
Hamburger Rundfunkorchester, Chor des Norddeutschen Rundfunks
conductor – Herbert Sandberg
radio recording, 1955
Compact Disc: Membran Music
Lakmé (Delibes)
Lakmé – Mado Robin
Gérald – Libero de Luca
Nilakantha – Jean Borthayre
Frédéric – Jacques Jansen
Mallika – Agnes Disney
Ellen – Claudine Collart
Rose – Simone Lemaître
Mistress Benson – Jane Perriat
orchestra and chorus: Opéra-Comique de Paris
conductor – George Sebastian
studio recording, 1952
Black Disc: Decca 115076-8 (3 LPs)
Mignon (Thomas)
Mignon – Geneviève Moizan
Philine – Janine Micheau
Wilhelm Meister – Libero de Luca
Lothario – René Bianco
Laerte – Robert Destain
Jarno – Noël Pierotte
Louis Frederic – François Deschamps
Orchestre national de Belgique, chorus: Théâtre de la Monnaie Bruxelles
conductor – George Sebastian
studio recording, 1952 Brussels
Black Disc: Decca 115048/49, Decca LXT2783/4/5
Compact Disc: Cantus Classics 5.00439 (2 CDs)
Tosca (Puccini): excerpts in French
Tosca – Margaret Mas
Cavaradossi – Libero de Luca
Scarpia – Paul Cabanel
Sagristano – René Gachet
Angelotti – Edmond Chatenet
Spoletta – Dino Franca
Sciarrone – Arthur Wehri
Carceriere – Maurice Emonet
Pastore – Nancy Waugh
orchestra and chorus: Grand Théatre de Genéve
conductor – René Bénédetti
live recording, November 1951 Geneva
Compact Disc: Cantus Classics 5.01037 (2 CDs), Malibran 659 (2 CDs)
Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125 (Beethoven)
Maria Stader
Hélène Bouvier
Libero de Luca
Josef Greindl
Orchestre National de la R.T.F., Chœurs de la Radiodiffusion Française
conductor – Pierre Monteux
radio recording, 6 November 1958 Paris
Compact Disc: Tahra TAH665 "Pierre Monteux in Paris"
Carmen (Bizet)
Carmen – Denise Scharley
Don José – Libero de Luca
Escamillo – Michel Roux
Micaëla – Martha Angelici
Zuniga – Charles Clavensy
Morales – Robert Massard
Le Dancaïre – Charles Daguerressar
Le Remendado – René Herent
Frasquita – Yvette Darras
Mercédès – Raymonde Notti Pages
Orchestre lyrique et chœurs de la RTF
conductor – Jules Gressier
radio recording, 23 July 1954
Compact Disc: Malibran 821 (2 CDs)
Il tabarro (Puccini)
Andreas Boehm
Libero de Luca
László Csabay
Lukas Barth
Leni Funk
Claire Cordy
Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
conductor – Robert F Denzler
live recording, 10 November 1945 Stadttheater Zürich
unpublished, available at the Fonoteca nazionale Svizzera
Versiegelt (Blech): abridged version
Frau Gertrud – Franziska Petri
Frau Willmers – Hilde Büchel
Else – Annette Brub
Bertel – Libero de Luca
Bürgermeister – Paul Sandoz
Gerichtsdiener Lampe – Fritz Ollendorff
Basler Orchestergesellschaft
conductor – Hans Vogt
radio recording, 1950 Basel
unpublished, available at the Fonoteca nazionale Svizzera
Venus (Schoeck)
Hans Bert Dick
Libero de Luca
Mary Davenport
Marko Rothmüller
Antonia Fahberg
Elfriede Paryzek
Siegfried Tappolet
Fritz Lanius
Peter Lagger
orchestra and chorus: Opernhaus, Zürich Chor; children's chorus: Schulhaus Hofacker
conductor – Victor Reinshagen
live recording, 7 September 1956 Stadtheater Zürich
unpublished, available at the Fonoteca nazionale Svizzera
Private off-air records, 33 rpm
Il trovatore (Verdi): excerpts in German (2 sides)
Gerty Wiessner
Libero de Luca
Heinz Rehfuss
Berner Stadtorchester
conductor – Otto Ackermann
radio transmission 4 August 1945
Knjaz Igor (Borodin): excerpts in German (2 sides)
Libero de Luca
Heinz Rehfuss
Berner Stadtorchester
conductor – Otto Ackermann
radio transmission 4 August 1945
Prodaná nevěsta (Smetana): excerpts in German (1 side)
Libero de Luca
Heinz Rehfuss
Berner Stadtorchester
conductor – Otto Ackermann
radio transmission 4 August 1945
TV films
Rhapsody in Blue 1955
Melodie der Welt 1956
Many thanks to Christian Torrent for the biographical information, the discography and the pictures (all but the second from top).
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