Govoni was born on October 21, 1885 in Bologna.
His parents Augusto Govoni and Enrichetta Nalsi belonged
to a family of artists.
His mother, during her short career, sang Selika, Marguerite and
Azucena. Govoni was also the grandson of the famous tenor 
Giacomo Galvani (December 1, 1825 Bologna – May 8, 1889 Venice), who taught singing at the Moscow conservatory, and
was the author of a book on singing.
Govoni began his career as baritone and sang in several Italian opera houses before making his debut in 1911
at La Scala:
Der Rosenkavalier (March 1, 1911), La pskovitana (March 11, 1912). He also sang there, with Serafin conducting, Geronimo
in Il matrimonio segreto (April 15, 1912) and
Arlecchino in the Italian premiere of Le donne curiose by E. Wolf-Ferrari (January 16, 1913), both with great success.
He was particularly successful interpreting comical roles like Arlecchino that he sang at the Paganini in Genoa (June 24, 1913) and at the San Carlo with Vittorio Gui conducting (March 25, 1915).
The war interrupted his career. During that time, he changed from baritone to tenor.
Starting in the Fall of 1919, Govoni sang at the Politeama in Genoa several works:
Les pêcheurs de perles (September 27, 1919), La traviata (October 8, 1919), Lucrezia Borgia (January 16, 1920) and Lodoletta (February 3, 1920).
At the San Carlo, Govoni was Ange Pitou in La fille de
Madame Angot (May 7, 1921) and an extraordinary Flammen in Lodoletta at the Bellini in Catania (April 3, 1920).
Govoni returned at La Scala as Filipeto in I quattro rusteghi by Wolf-Ferrari conducted by Ettore Panizza (May 2, 1923).
Govoni expanded his repertory to include Paolino (Il matrimonio segreto), Nemorino and Elvino, sung with success at the
Carlo Felice di Genova (February 12, 1925).
The increasing success of the verists pushed Govoni to organize, in 1927, a company for comic operas.
He managed it until 1929.
After this experience with the various aspects of a performance, Govoni started to direct stage performances.
During the season 1929-30, Govoni directed Il matrimonio segreto at the Rome opera, beginning a fruitful collaboration with that theatre. This new career continued without pause in Italy and abroad.
From 1934 to 1937, he cooperated with several theatres in South America, and had great success at the Colón in Buenos Aires for directing La novia del hereje by P. De Rogatis. He directed numerous works by Bellini, Cilea, G. Mulè, Mascagni, R. Zandonai, Puccini, Verdi, Wolf-Ferrari, etc.
At the Rome opera, he directed the world premiere of:
La vedova scaltra by Wolf-Ferrari (March 7, 1931); La farsa amorosa by Zandonai (February 22, 1933); Cecilia by L. Refice (February 15,
1934 and Buenos Aires 1934); La vigna by G. Guerrini (March 7, 1935); Ginevra degli Almieri by M. Peragallo (February 13, 1937); La
zolfara by Mulè (Febbruary 25, 1939); La locandiera by M. Persico (March 17, 1941); L'isola del sole by R. Caetani (January 30, 1943).
Govoni directed also following world premieres: Il campiello by Wolf-Ferrari (February 12, 1936, Scala), La pulce d'oro by G. F.
Ghedini and L'intrusa by G. Pannain (February 15, 1940, Genova, Teatro Carlo Felice). For these two last works, and Rigoletto for the
Colón in Buenos Aires (1935), Govoni realized also the sketches for the costumes and sets.
At the Rome opera, Govoni directed also: Conchita by Zandonai (February 22, 1930); Madonna Imperia by F. Alfano (April 5, 1930);
I compagnacci by P. Riccitelli (January 24, 1931); Paolo e Francesca by L. Mancinelli (January 24, 1931); Le furie di Arlecchino by A.
Lualdi (December 23, 1937); La monacella della fontana by Mulè (December 28, 1937); Gloria by Cilea (January 15, 1938); La bisbetica
domata by Persico (March 3, 1938); Il re by U. Giordano (May 20, 1938);
Taormina by Mulè (February 25, 1939); Madonna Oretta by Riccitelli (March 14, 1939); Siberia by Giordano (January 1, 1941);
La baronessa di Carini by Mulè and Il candeliere by Carabella (December 30, 1941); Arlecchino by F. Busoni (November 10, 1942, with Govoni singing Arlecchino).
Govoni concluded his career at the Quirino in Rome in 1944, directing I quattro rusteghi, in which his daughter Marcella,
born from his marriage with Eleonora Fiorini,
also sang.
Not least, he dedicated himself to teaching: from 1936, he taught scenic art at the Roman Santa Cecilia conservatory and from 1939 he
was the director of the Chigiana Academy in Siena.
He died in Rome on December 10, 1944.
Reference:
C. Gatti, Il teatro alla Scala, Milano 1964, I, pp. 246, 248, 251, 368; II, Cronologia, a cura di G. Tintori, pp. 71 s., 77, 80, 98
Il Maggio musicale fiorentino, Firenze 1967, p. 295
V. Frajese, Dal Costanzi all'Opera, IV, Roma 1978, ad indicem;
E. Frassoni, Due secoli di lirica a Genova, II, Genova 1980, pp. 100, 133, 159, 186, 259, 262, 273
Il teatro di S. Carlo. La cronologia 1737-1987, a cura di C. Marinelli Roscioni, Napoli 1987, pp. 486, 504, 578-585
D. Danzuso - G. Idonea, Musica, musicisti e teatri a Catania, Palermo 1990, p. 553
Enc. dello spettacolo, V, coll. 1527 ss.; Diz. encicl. univ. della musica e dei musicisti, Le biografie, III, p. 286.
M. Carletti
Reference
|
DA BARITONO |
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| 1907 |
|
|
|
| 11 |
Casalmaggiore |
Teatro Sociale |
AMICO FRITZ (David) |
| 11 |
Voghera |
Teatro Sociale |
AMICO FRITZ (David) |
|
|
|
|
| 1908 |
|
|
|
| 01 |
Bari |
Teatro Petruzzelli |
BOHÈME (Marcello) /
TRAVIATA (Germont) / WERTHER (Albert) |
| 02 |
Ravenna |
Teatro Mariani |
WERTHER (Albert) |
| 07 |
Vittorio Veneto |
Teatro Sociale |
FAUST (Valentino) |
| 10 |
Mirandola |
Teatro Nuovo |
MANON (Lescaut) / SANSONE E
DALIDA (Sacerdote) |
| 11 |
Piacenza |
Politeama |
WERTHER (Albert) |
| 12 |
Pesaro |
Teatro Rossini |
WERTHER (Albert) |
|
|
|
|
| 1909 |
|
|
|
| 01 |
Pesaro |
Teatro Rossini |
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR (Michonnet)
/ AMICO FRITZ (David) / PARTITA D'ONORE di V. Raffaelli |
| 03 |
Venezia |
Teatro Rossini |
BOHÈME (Marcello) |
| 04 |
Faenza |
Teatro Masini |
WERTHER (Albert) |
| 04 |
Osimo |
Teatro Nuova Fenice |
BOHÈME (Marcello) |
| 09 |
Argenta |
Teatro Sociale |
WERTHER (Albert) |
| 09/10 |
Bergamo |
Teatro Donizetti |
AMICO FRITZ (David) / DON
PASQUALE (Malatesta) |
| 10 |
Ravenna |
Teatro Alighieri |
MANON (Albert) |
| 10 |
Vittorio Veneto |
Teatro Sociale |
TRAVIATA (Germont) |
|
|
|
|
| 1910 |
|
|
|
| 03 |
Carrara |
Politeama Verdi |
WERTHER (Albert) |
| 05 |
Venezia |
Teatro La Fenice |
LA CAMBIALE DI MATRIMONIO (Slook) |
| 08 |
Tolentino |
Teatro Nicola Vaccai |
FEDORA (de Siriex) |
| 11 |
Forlì |
Teatro Comunale |
WERTHER (Albert) |
|
Prato |
Teatro Metastasio |
AMICO FRITZ (David) |
|
|
|
|
| 1911 |
|
|
|
| 04 |
Lecce |
Politeama Greco |
MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Sharpless) |
|
|
|
|
| 1912 |
|
|
|
| 08 |
Tolentino |
Teatro Nicola Vaccai |
BOHÈME (Marcello) |
|
Milano |
Teatro La Scala |
LE ALLEGRE COMARI DI
WINDSOR (Cajus) / MATRIMONIO SEGRETO (Robinson) |
|
|
|
|
| 1913 |
|
|
|
| 03 |
Brescia |
Teatro Grande |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
| 06 |
Asti |
Teatro Alfieri |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
| 06 |
Como |
Teatro Sociale |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
| 06 |
Genova |
Teatro Paganini |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
| 06 |
Parma |
Teatro Regio |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
| 07 |
Novara |
Teatro Coccia |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
| 10 |
Soresina |
Teatro Sociale |
MANON LESCAUT (Lescaut) |
|
Milano |
Teatro La Scala |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
|
Modena |
Teatro Municipale |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
|
|
|
|
| 1914 |
|
|
|
| 02 |
Pavia |
Teatro Fraschini |
AMICO FRITZ (David) |
| 03 |
Firenze |
Teatro Verdi |
FEDORA (de Siriex) / I
FIGLI DEL RE |
| 04 |
Salò |
Teatro Sociale |
ANDREA CHÉNIER (Gerard) |
| 05 |
Schio |
Teatro Civico |
MANON LESCAUT (Lescaut) |
| 10 |
Gualtieri |
Teatro Sociale |
MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Sharpless) |
|
|
|
|
| 1915 |
|
|
|
| 01 |
Verona |
Teatro Nuovo |
MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Sharpless)
/ MANON LESCAUT (Lescaut) / WALLY (Gellner) |
|
Napoli |
Teatro San Carlo |
LE DONNE CURIOSE di E. Wolf
Ferrari (Arlecchino) |
|
|
|
|
|
DA TENORE |
|
|
| 1918 |
|
|
|
|
Bologna |
Teatro Comunale |
WERTHER (Werther) |
|
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|
|
| 1919 |
|
|
|
| 01 |
Cento |
Teatro Sociale |
BOHÈME (Rodolfo) |
| 02 |
Faenza |
Teatro Masini |
TOSCA (Cavaradossi) |
| 05 |
Cesena |
Teatro Comunale |
WERTHER (Werther) |
| 05 |
Guastalla |
Teatro Sociale |
WERTHER (Werther) |
| 09/11 |
Genova |
Politeama Genovese |
PESCATORI DI PERLE (Nadir)
/ TRAVIATA (Alfredo) / WERTHER (Werther) |
|
|
|
|
| 1920 |
|
|
|
| 01/02 |
Genova |
Politeama Genovese |
LUCREZIA BORGIA (Gennaro) /
LODOLETTA (Flammen) |
|
Catania |
Teatro Bellini |
LODOLETTA (Flammen) |
|
Londra |
Covent Garden |
DON PASQUALE (Ernesto) /
TRAVIATA (Alfredo) |
|
Roma |
Teatro Costanzi |
AMICO FRITZ (Fritz) |
|
Venezia |
Teatro Malibran |
LA FIGLIA DI MADAME ANGOT
di C. Lecocq |
|
Verona |
Teatro Filarmonico |
I MAESTRI CANTORI DI
NORIMBERGA (Walter) |
|
|
|
|
| 1921 |
|
|
|
|
Cotignola |
Teatro Sociale |
WERTHER (Werther) |
|
Napoli |
Teatro San Carlo |
LA FIGLIA DI MADAME ANGOT
di C. Lecocq |
|
Pavia |
Teatro Fraschini |
ANIMA ALLEGRA di
F. Vittadini |
|
Todi |
Teatro Comunale |
BOHÈME (Rodolfo) |
|
Trieste |
Teatro Verdi |
I MAESTRI CANTORI DI
NORIMBERGA (Walter) / MATRIMONIO SEGRETO (Paolino) |
|
|
|
|
| 1922 |
|
|
|
| 02 |
Cesena |
Teatro Comunale |
MANON (des Grieux) |
| 04 |
Berna |
Stadt |
CONCERTO |
| 09 |
Cento |
Teatro Sociale |
WERTHER (Werther) |
| 10/11 |
Padova |
Teatro Verdi |
WERTHER (Werther) / MIGNON
(Guglielmo) |
| 12 |
Cairo |
Teatro Kedivhiale |
MEFISTOFELE (Faust) |
| 12 |
Alessandria d'Egitto |
Teatro Zizinia |
MEFISTOFELE (Faust) |
|
|
|
|
| 1923 |
|
|
|
| 01 |
Alessandria d'Egitto |
Teatro Zizinia |
TRAVIATA (Alfredo) |
| 01 |
Cairo |
Teatro Khediviale |
TRAVIATA (Alfredo) /
RIGOLETTO (Duca) |
| 01 |
Venezia |
Teatro Malibran |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva) |
| 05 |
Ravenna |
Teatro Alighieri |
FALSTAFF (Fenton) |
|
Bologna |
Teatro Comunale |
FALSTAFF (Fenton) |
|
Conselice |
Teatro Sociale |
WERTHER (Werther) |
|
Milano |
Teatro La Scala |
I QUATTRO RUSTEGHI (Filipeto) |
|
|
|
|
| 1924 |
|
|
|
| 01 |
Piacenza |
Teatro Municipale |
FALSTAFF (Fenton) |
| 04 |
Padova |
Teatro Verdi |
FALSTAFF (Fenton) |
| 05 |
Camerino |
Teatro Marchetti |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva)
/ BOHÈME (Rodolfo) |
| 07 |
Firenze |
Politeama Fiorentino |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva) |
| 08 |
Venezia |
Teatro La Fenice |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva) |
| 11 |
Roma |
Teatro Quirino |
CONCERTO / LODOLETTA (Flammen) |
|
Londra |
Covent Garden |
I DISPETTOSI AMANTI di
A. Parelli |
|
Torino |
Teatro Regio |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva)
/ FALSTAFF (Fenton) |
|
|
|
|
| 1925 |
|
|
|
| 02 |
Genova |
Teatro Carlo Felice |
SONNAMBULA (Elvino) |
|
Como |
Teatro Sociale |
MANON (des Grieux) |
|
Pisa |
Teatro Verdi |
LE MASCHERE (Florindo) |
|
Roma |
Teatro Costanzi |
RIGOLETTO (Duca) |
|
Senigallia |
Teatro Fenice |
AMICO FRITZ (Fritz) /
WERTHER (Werther) |
|
Trieste |
Teatro Verdi |
LE FURIE DI ARLECCHINO di
A. Lualdi (Arlecchino) |
|
|
|
|
| 1926 |
|
|
|
| 11 |
Rovigo |
Teatro Sociale |
DON PASQUALE (Ernesto) |
| 11 |
Pavia |
Teatro Guidi |
DON PASQUALE (Ernesto) |
| 12 |
Parma |
Politeama Reinach |
DON PASQUALE (Ernesto) |
|
Firenze |
Politeama Fiorentino |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva) |
|
Milano |
Teatro La Scala |
I MAESTRI CANTORI DI
NORIMBERGA (David) / I QUATTRO RUSTEGHI (Florindo) |
|
Pesaro |
Teatro Rossini |
STAGIONE |
|
|
|
|
| 1927 |
|
|
|
| 05 |
Venezia |
Teatro La Fenice |
SAMARITANA DELLA SCALA di
V. Gusmini (Gidino) |
| 09 |
Bergamo |
Teatro Donizetti |
SAMARITANA DELLA SCALA di
V. Gusmini (Gidino) |
| 10 |
Modena |
Teatro Municipale |
MATRIMONIO SEGRETO
(Paolino) |
|
Udine |
Teatro Puccini |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva) |
|
|
|
|
| 1928 |
|
|
|
| 03 |
Ancona |
Teatro Delle Muse |
STAGIONE COMPAGNIA ITALIANA
OPERA COMICA E LIRICA GOVONI/LERI |
| 03 |
Ravenna |
Teatro Mariani |
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Almaviva)
/ MATRIMONIO SEGRETO (Paolino) |
| 05 |
Novara |
Teatro Coccia |
STAGIONE COMPAGNIA ITALIANA
OPERA COMICA E LIRICA GOVONI/LERI |
| 05 |
Voghera |
Teatro Sociale |
STAGIONE COMPAGNIA ITALIANA
OPERA COMICA E LIRICA GOVONI/LERI |
| 05 |
Parma |
Politeama Reinach |
MATRIMONIO SEGRETO
(Paolino) |
| 06 |
Livorno |
Politeama |
MATRIMONIO SEGRETO
(Paolino) |
| 11 |
Genova |
Teatro Margherita |
MATRIMONIO SEGRETO
(Paolino) |
|
Modena |
Teatro Storchi |
STAGIONE COMPAGNIA ITALIANA
OPERA COMICA E LIRICA GOVONI/LERI |
|
Udine |
Teatro Puccini |
MATRIMONIO SEGRETO
(Paolino) |
