Tito Gobbi
1913 - 1984He made his operatic debut in Gubbio in 1935 as Count Rodolfo in Bellini's La sonnambula and quickly appeared in Italy major opera houses. By the time he retired in 1979 he had acquired a repertoire of almost 100 operatic roles. They ranged from Rossini's Barber through Donizetti and the standard Verdi and Puccini baritone roles to Alban Berg's Wozzeck. He had a worldwide career as operatic baritone, appearing in (or recording the singing role) for over 25 films and, from the mid-1960s onward, was the stage director for about ten different operas which were given close to 35 productions throughout Europe and North America, including a significant number in Chicago for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Gobbi and Tilda had a daughter, Cecilia, who now runs the "Associazione Musicale Tito Gobbi", an organization devoted to preserving and celebrating the record of her father's contribution to opera. He was also the brother-in-law of one of his famous colleagues at Covent Garden, the Bulgarian-born bass, Boris Christoff. Gobbi retired in 1979 and died in Rome in 1984, aged 70.
Maria Callas: At Covent Garden, 1962 and 1964
Carlo Felice Cillario, Georges Prêtre
María Callas, Renato Cioni
Maria Callas’ legendary live performances from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from 1962 and 1964 celebrate her triumphant return to the Covent Garden stage. Repertoire from these performances include Verdi: Tu che le vanità (Don Carlo), Bizet: Habanera & Séguedille (Carmen) and Puccini: Tosca (Act II complete). Her vivid portrayals of the tragic Elisabeth de Valois, the tantalising Carmen, and her vulnerable Tosca (directed by Franco Zeffirelli) captured the hearts of the London audiences. This is Maria Callas as the world remembers her. Renato Cioni, Tito Gobbi, Robert Bowman, Dennis Wicks Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden- Conducted by Georges Prêtre & Carlo Felice Cillario.
Maria Callas: At Covent Garden, 1962 and 1964
Tosca
Kirk Browning, Tito Gobbi
Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti
A stellar cast brings Puccini’s spellbinding opera to life, seizing every opportunity to thrill the audience. Luciano Pavarotti is Cavaradossi, the painter and political revolutionary in love with the beautiful and famous singer Tosca (the riveting Shirley Verrett). Rome’s diabolical chief of police, Baron Scarpia (Cornell MacNeil), wants Tosca for himself—but he underestimates the fury of a woman in love. With torture, murder, and a suicide in its final moments, Tosca packs more dramatic punches than most other operas—and this classic telecast captures them all. James Conlon conducts in a production by the incomparable Tito Gobbi, one of the great Scarpias of the 20th century.
Tosca
Callas Assoluta
Philippe Kohly
María Callas, Jean Cocteau
This revealing documentary from director Philippe Kohly examines the storied life of renowned soprano Maria Callas, from her troubled childhood in New York City to her scandal-laden but triumphant international career in opera. Featuring archival interviews with Callas herself and footage of contemporaries such as her lover Aristotle Onassis, this celebration of "La Divina" pays tribute to her enduring legacy some three decades after her death.
Callas Assoluta
Rigoletto
Carmine Gallone
Tito Gobbi, Marcella Govoni
This tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto's beautiful daughter Gilda. The opera's original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to the curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter had been seduced by the Duke with Rigoletto's encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda likewise falls in love with the Duke and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from the assassins hired by her father.
Rigoletto
Musica proibita
Carlo Campogalliani
Tito Gobbi, María Mercader
Paola (Tito Gobbi) is a successful, but lonely and aging opera singer in post-war Italy. His thoughts flash back to Florence in the days when he was a struggling student, and of his romance with the beautiful Claritta (Maria Mereader). Their eventual separation through a misunderstanding has resulted in a life of loneliness for both.
Musica proibita
Pagliacci
Mario Costa
Tito Gobbi, Gina Lollobrigida
Pagliacci, is a 1948 Italian film based on Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci, directed by Mario Costa. The film stars Tito Gobbi and Gina Lollobrigida. It recounts the tragedy of Canio, the lead clown (or pagliaccio in Italian) in a commedia dell'arte troupe, his wife Nedda, and her lover, Silvio. When Nedda spurns the advances of Tonio, another player in the troupe, he tells Canio about Nedda's betrayal. In a jealous rage Canio murders both Nedda and Silvio. The only actor in the cast who also sang his role was the celebrated Italian baritone, Tito Gobbi, but the film is largely very faithful to its source material, presenting the opera nearly complete.
Pagliacci
The Glass Mountain
Henry Cass
Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray
An aspiring composer, in the British Air Force for WWII, is downed in Italy and rescued by an Italian girl. He returns home to his wife, inspired to write an opera and aware that he's fallen in love with his rescuer.
The Glass Mountain
Giuseppe Verdi
Raffaello Matarazzo
Pierre Cressoy, Anna Maria Ferrero
The life and loves of great composer Giuseppe Verdi are played against a background of the great operas of the 19th Century. A tender love story of his successful and turbulent life, with more than 20 excerpts from his acclaimed operas.
Giuseppe Verdi
Follie per l'opera
Mario Costa
Gino Bechi, Maria Caniglia
Это история произошла в годы второй мировой войны. Группа итальянцев живущих в Лондоне собирает средства на восстановление разбомбленного нацистами католического собора. Для этого они организуют музыкальный концерт, доходы от которого поступят на строительство. Возглавляет этот проект журналист Карло Скала. Ему предстоит столкнуться и преодолеть многие трудности по организации мероприятия, но он с честью справится с ними и выступление ведущих итальянских певцов состоится. А в этом ему поможет несравненная Дора Скала.
Mad About Opera
Condottieri
Luis Trenker, Werner Klingler
Luis Trenker, Carla Sveva
Returned from exile where he accompanied his mother Caterina Sforza, Giovanni de 'Medici (1498-1526), becomes, under the name of Giovanni delle Bande Nere, captain of fortune at the service of the idea of a united Italy.
Giovanni de Medici: The Leader
