"Royal Opera House, La Scala, the Vienna State Opera and the Bolshoi. Her fame in Britain came not just from her stage appearances but from her recordings. She made famous the aria ""O mio babbino caro"" from Puccini's opera ""Gianni Schicchi"". Recorded in English under the title ""O My Beloved Father"", it earned Hammond a Gold Record award for 1 million sold copies on 27 August 1969. Her recording of ""O, Silver Moon"" from Dvořák's ""Rusalka"" was also a huge seller. A prolific artist, Hammond's repertoire also encompassed Verdi, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Beethoven, as well as folk song, art song,"
"recently, the popular aria ""Caro Mio Ben"" (1783) was ascribed to Giuseppe Tommaso Giovanni Giordani. However, scholars now consider Tommaso Giordani, or his father Giuseppe Giordani senior, more likely to be the aria's composer. Giuseppe Giordani Giuseppe Tommaso Giovanni Giordani (December 19, 1751, Naples – January 4, 1798, Fermo) was an Italian composer, mainly of opera. Giordani's parents were Domenico Giordani and Anna Maria Tosato. He studied music in Naples with Domenico Cimarosa and Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli. In 1774 he was appointed as music director of the chapel of the Duomo of Naples. His first opera (""L'Epponina"") was released in"
"Giorgio Gaber Giorgio Gaber (), byname of Giorgio Gaberscik (25 January 1939 – 1 January 2003), was an Italian singer, composer, actor, and playwright. He was also an accomplished guitar player and author of one of the first rock songs in Italian (""Ciao ti dirò"", 1958). With Sandro Luporini, he pioneered the musical genre known as ""teatro canzone"" (""song theatre""). He was born in Milan into a lower-middle-class family. His father, Guido Gaberscik, was born in Trieste, when the city was still part of Austria-Hungary. The surname Gaberscik is of Slovene origin (Gaberščik). His mother was from the Veneto region."
"Dario Baldan Bembo Dario Baldan Bembo (born 15 May 1948) is an Italian composer, singer-songwriter, music arranger and musician, best known for the songs ""Aria"" and ""Amico è"". Born in Milan, Baldan Bembo started his music career as a keyboardist for, among others, Lucio Battisti and Adriano Celentano. In 1970 he joined the group Equipe 84, with whom he started working as a composer. In 1972 he got his first successes as author of two songs written for Mia Martini, ""Piccolo uomo"" and ""Donna sola"", followed in 1973 by ""Minuetto"" and in 1974 by ""Inno"". In 1975 he made his"
"Giovanni Capurro Giovanni Capurro (February 5, 1859 – January 18, 1920) was an Italian poet, best remembered today as the co-creator, with singer/composer Eduardo Di Capua, of the world famous song, ""'O Sole mio"". Capurro was born in Naples. He made his living as a poet and playwright. He is considered to be among the finest nineteenth-century Italian poets. The actor Viviani gave his first performance in an established theatre, the Teatro Perella in Basso Porto, in ""The Street Urchin"", a sketch by Capurro. In 1898, Giovanni Capurro wrote the words to"" 'O Sole mio"" and asked Eduardo Di Capua"
"Carlo Arrigoni Carlo Arrigoni (6 December 1697 – 19 August 1744 was an Italian composer and musician who was active in several countries during the first half of the 18th century. Arrigoni was born in Florence. Little is known of his early years or musical education. His first oratorio was performed in his native city in 1719 and was followed by ""Il Pentimento d’Accabo"" (Accabo’s repentance, 1722), a setting for five voices of a poem by his relative, Father Crisostomo Arrigoni. His opera ""La Vedova"" (The widow) was also performed that same year in Foligno. The next heard of Arrigoni"
"Bixio Cherubini Bixio Cherubini (27 March 1899 – 14 December 1987) was an Italian lyricist, playwright and poet. Born in Leonessa, Cherubini was a descendant of composer Luigi Cherubini. He started composing poems and lyrics during the World War I, in which he enlisted as a volunteer. After working several years in Rome as a Poste italiane employee, in 1927 he moved to Milan to focus on songwriting. Around this time he formed a successful professional relationship with Cesare Andrea Bixio, with whom he wrote classics such as ""Tango delle capinere"", ""La canzone dell'amore"", ""Violino tzigano"", ""Trotta cavallino"", ""Mamma"". During"
"Luigi Maria Viviani Luigi Maria Viviani (? – 1856) was an Italian composer, conductor and violinist of Florentine origin. He was primarily noted for his ballet scores, most of them composed for the choreographers Giovanni Galzerani and Antonio Cortesi. His 1851 score for ""Fausto"" was particularly praised for its obbligato written for the ""bimbonclaro"" (a variation on the bass clarinet invented by the Florentine clarinetist and instrument-maker, Giovanni Bimboni). Viviani also composed two operas: ""L'eroe francese"", which premiered in 1826 at the Teatro Grande in Brescia, and ""L'amore in guerra"", which premiered in 1829 at the Teatro Alfieri in Florence."
"Luigi Maria Viviani Luigi Maria Viviani (? – 1856) was an Italian composer, conductor and violinist of Florentine origin. He was primarily noted for his ballet scores, most of them composed for the choreographers Giovanni Galzerani and Antonio Cortesi. His 1851 score for ""Fausto"" was particularly praised for its obbligato written for the ""bimbonclaro"" (a variation on the bass clarinet invented by the Florentine clarinetist and instrument-maker, Giovanni Bimboni). Viviani also composed two operas: ""L'eroe francese"", which premiered in 1826 at the Teatro Grande in Brescia, and ""L'amore in guerra"", which premiered in 1829 at the Teatro Alfieri in Florence."
"’O sole mio """" () is a globally known Neapolitan song written in 1898. Its lyrics were written by Giovanni Capurro and the music was composed by Eduardo di Capua and (1878–1972). There are other versions of """" but it is usually sung in the original Neapolitan language. ' is the Neapolitan equivalent of standard Italian ' and translates literally as ""my sunshine"". ""’O sole mio"" has been performed and covered by many artists, including Enrico Caruso, Rosa Ponselle and her sister Carmela, Beniamino Gigli, and Mario Lanza. Sergio Franchi recorded this song on his 1962 RCA Victor Red Seal"
"Giulio Caccini Giulio Romolo Caccini (also Giulio Romano) (8 October 1551 – buried 10 December 1618), was an Italian composer, teacher, singer, instrumentalist and writer of the very late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He was one of the founders of the genre of opera, and one of the most influential creators of the new Baroque style. He was also the father of the composer Francesca Caccini and the singer Settimia Caccini. Little is known about his early life, but he was born in Italy, the son of the carpenter Michelangelo Caccini; he was the older brother of the Florentine"
"quiz show ""SuperFlash"", which later became a widely spread football chant. As a composer his collaborations include Daniel Sentacruz Ensemble, Mina and Ornella Vanoni. Céline Dion covered his songs ""Dolce fiore"" (released as a single with the title ""L'amour viendra"") and ""L'amico è"" (with the title ""Hymne à l'amitié""). Dario Baldan Bembo Dario Baldan Bembo (born 15 May 1948) is an Italian composer, singer-songwriter, music arranger and musician, best known for the songs ""Aria"" and ""Amico è"". Born in Milan, Baldan Bembo started his music career as a keyboardist for, among others, Lucio Battisti and Adriano Celentano. In 1970 he"
"Domenico Modugno Domenico Modugno (; 9 January 1928 – 6 August 1994) was an Italian singer, songwriter, actor, guitarist, and later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. He is known for his 1958 international hit song ""Nel blu dipinto di blu"". He is considered the first Italian cantautore. The youngest of four children, Modugno was born at Polignano a Mare, in the province of Bari (Apulia), on 9 January 1928. His father, Vito Cosimo Modugno, was a municipal police commander, while his mother, Pasqua Lorusso, was a housewife. At the age of 9, his family moved to San"
"newspaper ""Rome"" as a reporter, drama critic, and, late in life, as an administrative employee. Capurro was a devotee of lounges where he sang, played the piano and did amusing imitations. Capurro died in 1920; some sources say in Naples while others say Mexico City. Giovanni Capurro Giovanni Capurro (February 5, 1859 – January 18, 1920) was an Italian poet, best remembered today as the co-creator, with singer/composer Eduardo Di Capua, of the world famous song, ""'O Sole mio"". Capurro was born in Naples. He made his living as a poet and playwright. He is considered to be among the"
"composer of ecclesiastical chants and offices. Latino Malabranca Orsini Latino Malabranca Orsini (b. at Rome, year unknown – d. 10 August 1294, Perugia) was a Roman noble, an Italian cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, and nephew of Pope Nicholas III. Latino was son of Roman senator Angelo Malabranca and Mabilia Orsini, the daughter of Matteo Rosso Orsini 'Il Grande'. Mabilia was therefore sister of Giovanni Gaetano Orsini (Pope Nicholas III), Cardinal Giordano Orsini (died 1287), and eight other siblings. The Malabranca family were once said to be a branch of the Frangipani, but this hypothesis has been contradicted. His"
"Ruggero Leoncavallo Ruggero (or Ruggiero) Leoncavallo (; 23 April 18579 August 1919) was an Italian opera composer and librettist. Although he produced numerous operas and other songs throughout his career it is his opera ""Pagliacci"" (1892) that remained his lasting contribution, despite attempts to escape the shadow of his greatest success. Today he remains largely known for ""Pagliacci"", one of the most popular works in the repertory, appearing as number 20 on the Operabase list of the most-performed operas worldwide in the 2013/14 season. His other well-known works include the song ""Mattinata"", popularized by Enrico Caruso, as well as the"
"Bruno Lauzi Bruno Lauzi (; 8 August 1937 – 24 October 2006) was an Italian singer-songwriter, poet and writer. Bruno Lauzi was born in Asmara, then part of the Italian Eastern Africa, to a Catholic father and a Jewish mother. In the 1960s he moved to Genoa, where he became part of the local music scene and met Gino Paoli, Luigi Tenco and Fabrizio De André. After a spell as song writer for Mia Martini, Georges Moustaki and Ornella Vanoni, Lauzi established himself as a renowned ""cantautore"" (singer-songwriter). His biggest hits include ""Ritornerai"" (1963), ""Amore caro amore bello"" (1972),""Onda su"
"Carlo Innocenzi Carlo Innocenzi (29 April 1899 – 24 March 1962) was an Italian composer. Born in Monteleone di Spoleto, Innocenzi is best known as a composer of musical scores for films; he composed over 150 film scores since 1933. From 1958 till his death, he focused on peplum film scores. Innocenzi also composed several pop songs, and some of them were not only commercial hits but also became instant classics instant classic, notably ""Mille lire al mese"" and ""Valeria ragazza poco seria"". He was married to Sonia Pearlwing, who under the name of Marcella Rivi was the author of"
"Annibale Caro Fra' Annibale Caro, K.M., (6 June 150717 November 1566) was an Italian writer and poet. Born in Civitanova Marche, then in the March of Ancona, Caro became tutor to the wealthy family of Lodovico Gaddi in Florence, and then secretary to Lodovico's brother Giovanni. At Gaddi's death, he entered the service of the Farnese family, and became confidential secretary to Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma, and to his sons, Duke Ottavio and Cardinals Ranuccio and Alexander. Caro's most important work were his translations (see below). He is also the author of poems, sonnets, and a comedy called"
"of the gulf of Cagliari. Notes Cited sources Other sources Giovanni Matteo Mario Giovanni Matteo De Candia, also known as Mario (17 October 1810 – 11 December 1883), was an Italian opera singer. The most celebrated tenor of his era, he was lionized by audiences in Paris and London. He was the partner of the opera singer Giulia Grisi. Mario was born in Cagliari, Sardinia on 17 October 1810 as Giovanni Matteo De Candia; his inherited titles were ""Cavaliere"" (Knight), ""Nobile"" (Nobleman) and ""Don"" (Sir) in the Kingdom of Sardinia and subsequently the Kingdom of Italy.<br> His aristocratic family belonged"
"Giovanni Matteo Mario Giovanni Matteo De Candia, also known as Mario (17 October 1810 – 11 December 1883), was an Italian opera singer. The most celebrated tenor of his era, he was lionized by audiences in Paris and London. He was the partner of the opera singer Giulia Grisi. Mario was born in Cagliari, Sardinia on 17 October 1810 as Giovanni Matteo De Candia; his inherited titles were ""Cavaliere"" (Knight), ""Nobile"" (Nobleman) and ""Don"" (Sir) in the Kingdom of Sardinia and subsequently the Kingdom of Italy.<br> His aristocratic family belonged to the Savoyard-Sardinian nobility and social elite, part of the"
"he acquired his immense fame. He published two collections of songs and , both titled ""Le nuove musiche"", in 1602 (new style) and 1614 (the latter as ""Nuove musiche e nuova maniera di scriverle""). Most of the madrigals are through-composed and contain little repetition; some of the songs, however, are strophic. Among the most famous and widely disseminated of these is the madrigal ""Amarilli, mia bella"". Notes Sources Giulio Caccini Giulio Romolo Caccini (also Giulio Romano) (8 October 1551 – buried 10 December 1618), was an Italian composer, teacher, singer, instrumentalist and writer of the very late Renaissance and early"
"Cristiano Malgioglio Cristiano Malgioglio () (born 23 April 1945) is an Italian composer, singer-songwriter and television personality. Born in Ramacca, Catania, Malgioglio obtained his first contract with a record label, Durium, thanks to the efforts of Fabrizio De André. In 1974 he composed the Iva Zanicchi's song ""Ciao cara come stai"", which won the Sanremo Music Festival. In 1975 he had his most significant success as songwriter with Mina's ""L'importante è finire"". In the same period he became a collaborator of Roberto Carlos, dealing with the Italian lyrics of his songs. He composed songs for, among others, Adriano Celentano, Rita"
"Jacopo Peri Jacopo Peri (20 August 156112 August 1633), known under the pseudonym Il Zazzerino, I was an Italian composer and singer of the transitional period between the Renaissance and Baroque styles, and is often called the inventor of opera. He wrote the first work to be called an opera today, ""Dafne"" (around 1597), and also the first opera to have survived to the present day, ""Euridice"" (1600). Peri was born in Rome, but studied in Florence with Cristofano Malvezzi, and went on to work in a number of churches there, both as an organist and as a singer. He"
"1916. He died in 1919. Marcello Fondato used some of his work in the 1970 film """". Aniello Califano Aniello Califano (19 January 1870 in Sorrento – 20 February 1919 in Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino) was an Italian poet and writer. He was the author of numerous Neapolitan songs, the music to which was composed by various Neapolitan composers. A number of his songs, especially ""'O surdato 'nnammurato"", remain popular today. Califano was born in Sorrento, the son of Alfonso Califano, an important landowner from Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino; his mother, Rosa Ruspoli, was a member of the local nobility."
"debut album ""Romantic Italian Songs."" Luciano Pavarotti won the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for his rendition of ""’O sole mio"". For nearly 75 years after its publication, the music of ""’O sole mio"" had generally been attributed to Eduardo di Capua alone. According to the traditional account, di Capua had composed it in April 1898 in Odessa, while touring with his father's band. It has turned out, however, that the melody was an elaboration of one of 23 which di Capua had bought from another musician, Alfredo Mazzucchi, in the preceding year. In November 1972, shortly"
"Carlo Imbonati Carlo Imbonati (Milan, 1753 – Paris, 15 March 1805) was an Italian nobleman and highbrow. He is known above all for the several poems which were dedicated to him by the famous literates Giuseppe Parini and, particularly, Alessandro Manzoni. Born in a prestigious and wealthy family from the Milanese nobility, from 1763 he was instructed by Parini, who dedicated to him the ode ""L'Educazione"" in occasion of his eleventh birthday. In 1792 Imbonati began a relationship with Giulia Beccaria, mother of the young Alessandro Manzoni. After his death, the poet will write for him the juvenile work """
"The following year he entered the competition at the Sanremo Music Festival with the song ""Amore mio"". In 1977 he topped the hit parade with the song ""L'angelo azzurro"", selling over a million of copies In 1979 he had one another major success with the song ""Balla"", a mixture of tarantella and disco music. In the eighties Balsamo focused on composing, achieving a significant success with the 1988 song ""Italia"", sung by Mino Reitano at the Sanremo Music Festival. Umberto Balsamo Rosario Umberto Balsamo, best known as Umberto Balsamo (born 10 May 1942) is an Italian singer-songwriter and composer. Born"
"the lyrics for several songs composed by him. Carlo Innocenzi Carlo Innocenzi (29 April 1899 – 24 March 1962) was an Italian composer. Born in Monteleone di Spoleto, Innocenzi is best known as a composer of musical scores for films; he composed over 150 film scores since 1933. From 1958 till his death, he focused on peplum film scores. Innocenzi also composed several pop songs, and some of them were not only commercial hits but also became instant classics instant classic, notably ""Mille lire al mese"" and ""Valeria ragazza poco seria"". He was married to Sonia Pearlwing, who under the"
"Maurizio Moro Maurizio Moro (15??—16??) was an Italian poet of the 16th century, best known for his madrigals. Very little is known about his early life. Probably born in Ferrara, he became presbyter (""""canonico"""") at the Congregazione di S Giorgio d'Alga in Venice, and author of sacred poems as well as secular texts for librettos. One of his madrigals, ""Sí ch'io vorrei morire"", was set to music by Claudio Monteverdi in his Fourth Book of Madrigals. Filippo Bonaffino also set some of his work to music in book of madrigals. In the ""Dizionario Storico degli Uomini Ferraresi"" by author Luigi"
"Carlotta Ferrari Carlotta Ferrari (27 January 183722 November 1907) was an Italian composer noted for opera. Carlotta Ferrari was born in Lodi, Italy, and studied singing and piano at the Milan Conservatory with Giuseppina Strepponi. Ferrari wrote her first opera ""Ugo"" at the age of twenty. Faced with a lack of interest, she raised funds for its first public production in Lecco and conducted the performances herself. In April 1875, Ferrari was a made an honorary professor of composition at the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna, upon the recommendation of Ambroise Thomas. Besides songs and opera, she published an autobiography and"
"Pino Massara Pino Massara (24 April 1931 - 23 July 2013) was an Italian musician, composer, record producer and conductor. Born in Vigevano as Giuseppe Previde Massara, graduated in chemistry, from the university years he devoted himself to jazz music. Among his successful songs ""Permette, signorina?"", originally performed by Nicola Arigliano and later covered by Nat King Cole with the title ""Cappuccina"", ""I Sing ammore"" and ""Grazie prego scusi"", both recorded by several artists including Dean Martin, ""Nel Sole"", which sold over one million copies and launched the career of Al Bano, and ""Siamo la coppia più bella del mondo"","
"Carlo Lombardo Carlo Lombardo dei Baroni Lombardo di San Chirico (Naples, 28 November 1869 – Milan, 19 December 1959) known also under the composer-pseudonyms Léon Bard, Leo Bard, Leblanc and M. Fernandez, was an Italian operetta impresario, comedian, librettist, publisher and ""composer"" of pasticcio productions of other composers' music. He is regarded in Italy as the father of the late 19th and early 20th Century revival in Italian operetta. Lombardo was responsible, in a somewhat debatable manner, for getting Pietro Mascagni to write the operetta ""Sì"". His brother was the conductor and composer Costantino Lombardo. His publishing house, Lombardo Editore,"