Pasquale
Amato (baritone) was born in Naples in 1878. Though
originally intended by his parents to become a Civil
Engineer he studied music at the Naples Conservatory. His
debut was in 1900, at the Bellini Theatre, as Germont in
La Traviata. He subsequently sang at Covent Garden in
the autumn of 1904 with the San Carlo Opera Company, and
after singing in South America and Milan joined the new York
Metropolitan Opera Company in 1908. Roles that he created
included Jack Rance in Puccini's La Fanciulla del
West, and in two forgotten operas, Cyrano de
Bergerac (Damrosch) and Madame Sans-Gene
(Giordano). He established himself as a fine character
singer, remaining with the company until 1921. He recorded
extensively, initially for the Italian firm Fonotipia, then
for Victor in America and for Homochord. He died in
1942.
'LARGO
AL FACTOTUM' (Il Barbiere di Siviglia)(Rossini): HMV
DB156(2-052051) rec. 1911
This recording shows his abilities off well. With the
exception of Chaliapine, most singers of the era
concentrated on beauty of tone rather than characterization.
On the evidence of this recording Amato was another
exception: his Figaro comes over strongly as a character.
The recording, which was made in the USA for Victor, has
been transferred at 78rpm and has been digitally noise reduced (see the note on the introduction page).
If you would like to download
this recording you can do so from this page.
Pasquale
Amato (baritone) was born in Naples in 1878. Though
originally intended by his parents to become a Civil
Engineer he studied music at the Naples Conservatory. His
debut was in 1900, at the Bellini Theatre, as Germont in
La Traviata. He subsequently sang at Covent Garden in
the autumn of 1904 with the San Carlo Opera Company, and
after singing in South America and Milan joined the new York
Metropolitan Opera Company in 1908. Roles that he created
included Jack Rance in Puccini's La Fanciulla del
West, and in two forgotten operas, Cyrano de
Bergerac (Damrosch) and Madame Sans-Gene
(Giordano). He established himself as a fine character
singer, remaining with the company until 1921. He recorded
extensively, initially for the Italian firm Fonotipia, then
for Victor in America and for Homochord. He died in
1942.
