Tito Schipa facts for kids
Tito Schipa (born Raffaele Attilio Amedeo Schipa on January 2, 1889, in Lecce, Italy – died December 16, 1965) was a famous Italian lyric tenor. A tenor is a male singer with a high voice. He was known as one of the best "tenore di grazia," which means he had a very graceful and smooth singing style. Many people thought he was one of the most popular tenors of his time.
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About His Life
Tito Schipa was born in Lecce, a city in Italy. He started studying music in Milan and made his first opera performance when he was 21 years old in 1910. After that, he sang in many places across Italy and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1917, he was the first to sing the role of Ruggiero in the opera La rondine by Giacomo Puccini.
In 1919, Schipa moved to the United States. He joined the Chicago Opera Company and stayed there until 1932. Then, he sang at the famous New York Metropolitan Opera from 1932 to 1935, and again in 1941. He also performed at the San Francisco Opera starting in 1924.
From 1929 to 1949, he often performed in Italy. He sang at famous opera houses like La Scala in Milan and the Rome Opera. He went back to Buenos Aires to sing in 1954. In 1957, he even toured in the Soviet Union.
Schipa on Film and Stage
You can still see Tito Schipa's performances on film. In 1929, he appeared in two short movies. He sang famous songs like "M'appari" from the opera Martha and "Una furtiva lagrima" from L'elisir d'amore.
Over time, Schipa focused on about 20 Italian and French opera roles that suited his voice best. These included Werther, L'elisir d'amore, and L'arlesiana. In concerts, he sang beautiful opera songs and popular songs from Naples and Spain.
He made many recordings of his songs and opera parts. His first recordings were in Italy in 1913. He even recorded a famous opera called Don Pasquale in 1932, which you can still find today. He also recorded several tango songs, some of which he wrote himself. Because of his early tours in Latin America, he was very popular there.
His Voice and Performances
Some people thought Schipa's voice was not very big or had a small range. However, he was still very popular with audiences. He was known for his charm and good taste in music.
Tito Schipa was also a conductor, meaning he led orchestras.
Later Life and Challenges
In 1939, Tito Schipa was asked to sing concerts to help raise money for a group that was against the government in Italy at the time. He turned down the offer. He explained that he had to be careful because of his connections with the authorities in Italy.
Schipa sang his last performance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1941. He then returned to Italy. He was seen as being close to the government leaders there. This association made it harder for him later in his career. When he returned to the United States after the war, his first concert did not have many people attend.
In 1958, Schipa stopped performing in operas. He started teaching singing, first in Budapest. He came back to New York for one last concert in 1962, and the hall was completely full. Tito Schipa passed away on December 16, 1965, in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 77. He was teaching there when he died.
His Legacy
Tito Schipa was a National Patron of Delta Omicron, which is a music group for professionals.
His son, Tito Schipa Jr., is also involved in music. He is a composer, singer, writer, and actor.
Movies He Was In
- Three Lucky Fools (1933)
- To Live (1937)
- Mad About Opera (1948)
- The Mysteries of Venice (1951)
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See also
In Spanish: Tito Schipa para niños
