Italian Wagnerian tenor Giuseppe Borgatti (1871-1950) sang the premiere roles in Andrea Chenier and Respighi's "Semirama", and the La Scala debut of Sigfrido with Toscanini conducting. Cosima Wagner expressed amazement at Borgatti's true dramatic/heldentenor voice. He developed glaucoma in 1914, by 1917 he was blind in one eye and by 1925 he was completely blind. What a voice!!!
He sang Otello and recorded too arias like Niun mi tema. There is an interesting book which was written by Borgatti in 1927 called "La mia vita d'artista, ricordi e aneddoti", in english is My life as an artist, remembrances....Wish to have a copy of that!
69brancaleone 3 years ago
...sadly Borgatti is so unknown in the USA.........
j72050 3 years ago
Did Borgatti ever peform or record anything from "Otello?" He certainly sounds as though he'd been excellent in the role --
stevevandien 3 years ago
He was the only italian dramatic tenor who could sing wagnerian roles well as Slezak or Melchior.
69brancaleone 3 years ago
Wonderful. How often do we hear a true Italian dramatic tenor who was at home in Wagner?
stevevandien 3 years ago
Really fantastic!!! Thanks for posting this gem. Borgatti is the greatest heldentenor!
69brancaleone 3 years ago