This channel is the re-establishment of previous channels that have been sadly terminated.
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Alessandro Bonci--tenor
Orchestra
1912-1913
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Born: February 10, 1870
Died: August 10, 1940
Italian tenor.

Coming into the tenors born in the 1870s, we immediately encounter one of the old schools favorite sons, the celebrated Italian Alessandro Bonci, born near Bologna in February 1870. Renowned as one of the great delcanto experts of the century. Some idea of the great determination of some of these singers, to make the grade, may be shown by young Alessandro’s example. Being poor, he had to walk 18 miles every day, nine miles there and nine miles back, to attend the Conservatorio at Pessaro, and he studied there for five years.
His La scala debut took place in 1896 as Aturo in Puritane. The role written especially for Rubini, you may remember. And he appeared there for many subsequent seasons. Before coming to Covent Garden in 1900, to sing La Boheme with Melba and Journee, he appeared successfully in Saint Petersburg, Vienna, Berlin, Lisbon, and Madrid.
At Covent Garden he appeared also in Rigoletto and returned there in 1903 to be acclaimed in Rigoletto, the Barber of Seville and Lucia de Lammermuir with Chi de Rofu making his Covent Garden debut. And finally, in La Boheme with Melba and Scottie, The Times hailing his performance as being unequaled for the beauty of the acting, and sincerity of his singing, his repose giving him distinctly an advantage over all his predecessors. Here to start with then, is Bonci and one of his Covent Garden roles, Fra Poco from Lucia de Lammamuir

We already know a little of the Manhattan Metropolitan rivalry mentioned during discussion of our last singer. By 1906, Oscar Hammerstein had gathered a formidable company of French and Italian Artists including Nancona, Arimondi, Dunalda, Dalmoes, Calvi, Renault and Melba. And he was on the look-out for a tenor to rival Caruso at the Metropolitan.
Bonci was engaged and made his debut there in his favourite showpiece in Puritani. Enthusiasm for Bonci was so great, that encores entry was greeted with cries of “Viva Bonci” and the tenor received a roring welcome, when he, at last appeared. The critic of ‘the sun’ reported that he used his voice like a great artist and stressed his adelicacy, refinement, grace, and elegance.

Bonci recorded for Phonotapaya, Edison and Colombia, a total of some 137 published titles. Since he was an uneven singer and as the voice did not wear too well, the earlier the recording the better, and this means the phonotapaya, for whom he recorded from 1905 to 1908. He did in fact, make six electrical sides for Colombia in 1926 in Milan, but these are not representative of the singer at anything like his best, indeed his entire Columbus series is uneven in quality and tone.
His original records were scarce and expensive. I well remember, while in London doing my national service and receiving the princely sum of 18 shillings and sixpence per week, I held Bonci’s celebrated phontapaya record of Spirito Gentil from La Favarito in my hands and Ronald Phillips’s famous collectors corner shop in Shaftesbury Avenue. Eyes glistening, I tangently asked how much? “5 guineas” replied Philips, without as much as a blink. 6 weeks’ pay in other words. I’ll leave you to work out current equivalent.

Bonci recorded for Phonotapaya, Edison and Colombia, a total of some 137 published titles. Since he was an uneven singer and as the voice did not wear too well, the earlier the recording the better, and this means the phonotapaya, for whom he recorded from 1905 to 1908. He did in fact, make six electrical sides for Colombia in 1926 in Milan, but these are not representative of the singer at anything like his best, indeed his entire Columbus series is uneven in quality and tone.
His original records were scarce and expensive. I well remember, while in London doing my national service and receiving the princely sum of 18 shillings and sixpence per week, I held Boncis celebrated phontapaya record of Spirito Gentil from La Favarito in my hands and Ronald Phillips’s famous collectors corner shop in Shaftesbury Avenue. Eyes glistening, I tangently asked how much? “5 guineas” replied Philips, without as much as a blink. 6 weeks’ pay in other words. I’ll leave you to work coat of current equivalent."; historyofthetenor

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