Antonio Cortis facts for kids

Antonio Cortis (born August 12, 1891 – died April 2, 1952) was a famous Spanish tenor. A tenor is a male singer with a high voice. People loved his exciting performances of Italian opera. He was especially known for singing music by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and composers of verismo opera. Verismo opera is a style that shows real-life stories and emotions.

Antonio Cortis's Journey to Stardom

Antonio Cortis was born at sea, but he grew up in Dénia, Spain. His original name was Antonio Monton Corts. He later changed it for his singing career. He studied music at the Madrid Royal Conservatory. He even sang in a children's choir!

Early Performances

In 1909, Antonio and his mother moved to Barcelona. There, he continued his music studies. He first sang on stage in 1912 at the Liceo in Barcelona. At first, he sang smaller parts. These are called comprimario roles. But he soon began to sing bigger, more important roles. He performed in many opera houses in Spain and South America. This included the famous Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

Meeting Enrico Caruso

In 1917, Antonio toured South America. A very famous singer named Enrico Caruso became his friend. Caruso was a star at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He encouraged Antonio to sing in New York. Antonio did not take Caruso's offer at that time. But he learned a lot from Caruso's amazing singing style.

International Success

Antonio's international career truly began in 1920. He had successful shows in Naples and at Rome's Teatro Costanzi. He signed a three-year contract there. After that, he sang in many countries. He performed in Stockholm, Milan, Latin America, and Berlin. From 1924 to 1932, he was a popular singer with the Chicago Civic Opera.

His first performance at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, was in 1931. He sang the role of Calaf in Puccini's Turandot. He often sang in Italian opera houses in the early 1930s. However, he did not become a regular star at Milan's La Scala. This was because many popular Italian tenors already sang there.

Famous Roles

Antonio Cortis became known as one of the best singers of verismo opera. He was especially praised for his roles as Calaf in Turandot and Dick Johnson in Puccini's La fanciulla del West. He could sing the difficult music by composers like Umberto Giordano and Pietro Mascagni with ease. He also sang roles by Verdi, like the Duke in Rigoletto. He performed these with great skill.

Later Career and Retirement

Antonio decided to spend the last part of his career in Spain. This was partly because of the Great Depression. This event affected many countries' economies. Even though his voice was still good, he stopped singing opera in the mid-1930s. The start of the Spanish Civil War also influenced his decision to retire.

During this time, he wrote some songs. In 1940, he started a school for singers in Valencia. After World War II, he sometimes came out of retirement. He would appear in Spanish operas and other shows. His health got worse in the early 1950s. He passed away in Valencia at the age of 60.

Recordings and His Voice

Antonio Cortis made many excellent recordings. These were made between 1925 and 1930. He recorded operatic songs and arias. An aria is a song for one voice in an opera. Most of his recordings were for HMV and the Victor label.

His recordings include music by famous composers. These are composers like Gounod, Meyerbeer, Massenet, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, Giordano, and Mascagni. He also recorded songs by Spanish composers like Gaztambide, Vives, and Serrano. You can still find these recordings on CDs today!

What Made His Voice Special?

Antonio Cortis was a bit shy for a public performer. But music experts say his voice was one of the best ever recorded. He had a powerful, deep voice. He didn't just sing loudly. He sang with great imagination and musical skill. His voice had a thrilling sound that people loved.

See also

In Spanish: Antonio Cortis para niños