Mario Guardabassi
Guardabassi (Count Francesco Mario) was of noble birth and a skilled portrait painter.
He went for the first time to the US in 1893 to display his paintings of Pope Leo XIII at the Chicago World's Fair.
Here, he became interested in singing and decided to return to
Italy to study.
He returned to the U.S. in 1903, and made his debut at the Met as Silvio.
Guardabassi sang two roles with the Metropolitan Opera Company:
Silvio and Morales, besides a concert.
He sang Silvio for the first time on December 9, 1903 with Sembrich, Caruso, Scotti,
Reiss and Vigna conducting.
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Mr. Guardabassi's first appearance, which was in the character of Silvio,
was made under circumstances that were evidently embarrassing to him,
for he betrayed what can scarcely be described as anything but absolute
fright. It had its unmistakable effects upon his appearance and action,
which were extremely constrained, and upon his singing. His voice seemed
as if it might be an agreeable and a serviceable one under more favorable
conditions.
The New York Times
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His further appearances were:
Pagliacci on December 9, 1903 (New York), December 14/26, 1903 (New York),
January 2, 1904 (New York),
January 12, 1904 (Philadelphia), January 15, 1904 (New York).
Fourth Grand Sunday Night Concert, Metropolitan Opera House on December 20, 1903,
singing Le roi de Lahore: Promesse de mon avenir.
Carmen on February 6, 1904 (New York), February 9, 1904 (Philadelphia),
February 19, 1904 (New York), March 2, 1904 (New York),
March 9, 1904 (Washington D. C.), March 16/26, 1904 (Chicago), March 31, 1904
(Pittsburgh), April 16, 1904 (Boston). April 22, 1904 (New Haven).
He was not very successful as a baritone and reappeared in 1909 as a tenor. His career evolved
as follows:
1909 Warsaw (Tosca in January), Alessandria (Cavalleria rusticana, in October, sharing with Frosini Ottavio and Cucci Luigi, with Sari Ada, Mannarini Ida, Bertazzoni Amedeo
1910 Schio, Chicago
The New York Times October 2, 1910
1911 Chicago, Philadelphia (Carmen on January 25/February 13/March 24; Cavalleria rusticana on February 18/March 29,; Quo vadis
on March 31/April 4, the latter a tour performance at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York; act 4 from Faust on April 1; Pagliacci on November 11)
1912 Philadelphia (Quo vadis on February 12; Pagliacci on March 2; Carmen on March 9), Baltimore (Pagliacci on March 7, tour performance of the Philadelphia opera company)
Upon the outbreak of World
War I, he returned to Italy and enlisted as a volunteer, earning the rank of Captain.
The New York Times May 5, 1918
Returning to the US, he received an important
commission from the Italian embassy and promoted Italian culture.
His repertory included: Silvio, Morales, José, Roméo, Cavaradossi, Turiddu, Canio, Radames,
Faust, Vinicius, ...
| Mario Guardabassi sings | Cavalleria rusticana: O Lola |
In RA format
In RA format
Chronology
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DA BARITONO |
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| 1903 |
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| 12 |
New York |
Teatro Metropolitan |
CONCERTO / PAGLIACCI (Silvio) |
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| 1904 |
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| 01/02 |
New York |
Teatro Metropolitan |
CARMEN (Morales) |
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DA TENORE |
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| 1909 |
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| 01 |
Varsavia |
Teatro Imperiale |
CARMEN (Don José) / ROMÉ:O ET JULIETTE (Roméo) / TOSCA (Cavaradossi) |
| 10 |
Alessandria |
Teatro Verdi |
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (Turiddu) / PAGLIACCI (Canio) |
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| 1910 |
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| 05 |
Schio |
Teatro Sociale |
AIDA (Radames) |
| 10 |
Chicago |
Civic Opera House |
CARMEN (Don José) |
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| 1911 |
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| 01 |
Chicago |
Civic Opera House |
ROMÉ:O ET JULIETTE (Roméo) |
| 01 |
Philadelphia |
Teatro Metropolitan |
CARMEN (Don José) / CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (Cavaradossi) / FAUST (Faust) |
| 11 |
Philadelphia |
Teatro Metropolitan |
PAGLIACCI (Canio) |
| 11/12 |
Chicago |
Civic Opera House |
CARMEN (Don José) / PAGLIACCI (Canio) / QUO VADIS? (Vinicio) |
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| 1912 |
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| 03 |
Philadelphia |
Teatro Metropolitan |
CARMEN (Don José) / PAGLIACCI (Canio) |
| 03 |
Baltimora |
Teatro Opera |
PAGLIACCI (Canio) |
Source for the chronology, picture and discography the incredible site of Roberto Marcocci.
Discography
LYROPHON RECORD
J 403 CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA: Siciliana
J 404 CARMEN: Il fior
J 405 Mattinata (Leoncavallo)
J 406 AIDA: Celeste Aida
J 407 TROVATORE: Ah sì, ben mio
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