Ezio Pinza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ezio Pinza
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ezio Fortunato Pinza |
| Born | May 18, 1892 Rome, Italy |
| Died | May 9, 1957 (aged 64) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Opera |
| Instruments | Voice (Bass) |
| Years active | 1914–56 |
Ezio Fortunato Pinza (born May 18, 1892 – died May 9, 1957) was a famous Italian opera singer. He had a very rich, smooth, and powerful voice, which was quite special for a bass singer.
Pinza sang for 22 seasons at the New York Metropolitan Opera. He performed in over 750 shows and 50 different operas. He also sang at the San Francisco Opera and in famous places like La Scala in Milan and the Royal Opera House in London.
After leaving the Metropolitan Opera in 1948, Pinza started a new career on Broadway in musical theater. He was especially well-known for his role as Emile de Becque in South Pacific. He also appeared in several Hollywood films.
Contents
About Ezio Pinza
His Early Life
Ezio Fortunato Pinza was born in Rome, Italy, in 1892. He grew up in the old city of Ravenna. He studied singing at the Bologna Conservatory. At just 22 years old, he made his first opera performance in 1914. He played the role of Oroveso in the opera Norma.
When he was young, Pinza loved bicycle racing. He also served in the military for four years during World War I. After the war, he continued his opera career in Rome in 1919. He was then invited to sing at Italy's most important opera house, La Scala, in Milan, starting in 1922.
At La Scala, Pinza's career really took off under the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini. People loved his amazing singing and his strong stage presence. Even though he went to a music school, Pinza never learned to read music. He learned all his songs by listening to them played on the piano and then singing them perfectly.
Opera Star
Pinza made his first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in November 1926. He sang in the opera La vestale. In 1929, he sang the role of Don Giovanni, which became one of his most famous parts. He also played other Mozart roles like Figaro and Sarastro. He performed in many Italian operas by composers like Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. He also sang in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov.
Besides the Met, Pinza sang at the Royal Opera House in London from 1930 to 1939. He was also invited to sing at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. In 1935, he sang with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. This performance was even broadcast on the radio. In 1947, he sang in the opera Faust with his daughter, Claudia Pinza Bozzolla.
Pinza left the Metropolitan Opera in 1948. He had sung with many famous singers during his time there. The Metropolitan Opera honored him by naming all the water fountains at their new building after him. Before he stopped singing opera, he knew about 95 different roles!
A Difficult Time
In March 1942, during World War II, Ezio Pinza was briefly held by the government due to misunderstandings. He was detained for nearly three months. This was a very upsetting time for Pinza, and it affected him for years. Even so, soon after his release, he continued to perform in operas.
Later Years and Passing
After leaving opera, Pinza started a new career in Broadway musicals. In April 1949, he starred in the famous musical South Pacific. He played the role of Emile de Becque, a French planter. His singing of the song "Some Enchanted Evening" made him a huge star. In 1950, he won a Tony Award for best lead actor in a musical.
Pinza lived in Rye, New York. In 1953, he had his own TV show called Bonino. He played a widowed opera singer raising eight children. In 1954, he appeared in another Broadway show called Fanny with Florence Henderson.
Ezio Pinza sadly died from a stroke on May 9, 1957, when he was 64 years old. He is buried in Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich, Connecticut. Before he passed away, Pinza finished writing his life story, which was published in 1958.
Movies and Television
Pinza appeared in several films. His first movie was Carnegie Hall in 1947, which featured many famous musicians. He also starred in Mr. Imperium with Lana Turner and Strictly Dishonorable, both released in 1951. His last movie was Tonight We Sing (1953), where he played the famous Russian singer Feodor Chaliapin. In this film, Pinza sang a part of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov in Russian. You can also hear Pinza singing "Anema e core" in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.
Pinza also hosted his own TV music show in 1951. In 1953, he starred in the TV show Bonino. He continued to appear on American television until 1955.
Recordings
Ezio Pinza made many recordings during the 1920s and 1930s. These recordings were on 78-rpm discs and mostly featured opera songs. Music critics and listeners love these recordings because of his beautiful voice and excellent musical skills. Many of these old recordings have been re-released on CDs today.
Pinza also made opera recordings in the 1950s, even though his voice was not as strong then. He also recorded popular songs. He was featured on the best-selling recording of South Pacific with Mary Martin. Pinza also recorded the original cast album for the musical Fanny in 1954.
Images for kids
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The grave of Ezio Pinza
See also
In Spanish: Ezio Pinza para niños
