Hipólito Lázaro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hipólito Lázaro
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Lazaro in 1917
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Hipòlit Lázaro
September 13, 1887 Barcelona, Kingdom of Spain
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| Died | May 14, 1974 (aged 86) Barcelona, Spain
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| Occupation | Opera singer |
| Years active | 1910–1950 |
Hipòlit Lázaro (born September 13, 1887 – died May 14, 1974) was a famous Spanish opera singer. He was known as a tenor, which is a type of male singing voice. Lázaro performed in operas for 40 years, from 1910 to 1950. He was from Catalonia, a region in Spain.
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Hipólito Lázaro's Early Life and Career
Hipólito Lázaro was born in Barcelona, Spain, on September 13, 1887. He began his singing career in 1910. His first professional performance was in Barcelona in an opera called La favorite.
Later that same year, he made his debut in Italy. He sang in the opera Rigoletto in the city of Ferrara. For a short time in 1911, he used the stage name Antonio Manuele for some concerts in England.
Building a Career in Opera
Lázaro became well-known for singing in a style called verismo. This type of opera focuses on realistic stories and strong emotions. He also sang in many operas by the famous composer Giuseppe Verdi. Some of these included Rigoletto, Aida, and Il trovatore.
He also performed in Bizet's Carmen. Lázaro also sang in some bel canto roles. Bel canto means "beautiful singing" and focuses on smooth, flowing melodies. Examples include La favorite and I puritani.
Lázaro was also famous for performing in Spanish zarzuela. This is a type of Spanish musical play that mixes singing and spoken dialogue. He was especially loved for his role in Arrieta's Marina.
Creating New Opera Roles
Hipólito Lázaro was chosen to sing the main tenor parts in several new operas. He sang in Mascagni's Parisina in 1913. He also performed in Mascagni's Il piccolo Marat in 1921.
In 1924, while in Philadelphia, he received a special request. The composer Umberto Giordano asked him to sing the tenor role in his new opera, La cena delle beffe. This opera first opened in December 1924.
Later Career and Retirement
From the mid-1920s onwards, Lázaro mostly performed in concerts. He also sang in operas in Spain, Paris, and Italy. He was very popular in South America, especially in Cuba, where he visited many times.
As he got older, his voice began to change. However, he remained very popular, especially for his zarzuela performances. In the 1930s, he starred in zarzuelas like Curro Vargas and Doña Francisquita. He also sang in Spanish operas such as Bretón's La Dolores.
Lázaro officially retired from the stage in 1940. But he still gave occasional performances after that. His very last performances were in Havana, Cuba in 1950. He sang in Marina, Aida, and Rigoletto.
After retiring, Lázaro wrote two books. One was his autobiography, El libro de mi vida (The book of my life), published in 1968. The other was Mi método de canto (My singing method), a guide for young tenors.
Hipólito Lázaro passed away on May 14, 1974, in his hometown of Barcelona. He was 87 years old.
Lázaro's Legacy as a Singer
Experts described Lázaro's voice as "wide-ranging" and "vibrant." It had a bright, metallic sound and he sang with great passion. When he performed at the Metropolitan Opera House, some people compared him to the famous tenor Enrico Caruso.
He also had a friendly rivalry with another Spanish tenor, Miguel Fleta. Both were very talented singers of their time.
See also
In Spanish: Hipólito Lázaro para niños
