Stefano Ballarini
Istvan Balla, better known by the names Stefano Ballarini and Stephen Ballarini, (19 October 1902 - 1976) was a Hungarian-born American baritone.
Life and career
Stefano Ballarini was born with the name Istvan Balla[1] on 19 October 1902 in Budapest, Hungary.[2]
In 1928 he performed the role of Donner in Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold at La Scala under the baton on Ettore Panizza.[3]
In February 1937 he performed the role of 'Escamillo in Carmen with the Philadelphia Civic Grand Opera Company.[4] In July 1937 he performed the roles of Froh and Mime in Das Rheingold at Lewisohn Stadium with the New York Philharmonic.[5] In August 1937 he performed the role of Escamillo in Carmen opposite Irra Petina in the title role with the Philadelphia Orchestra under conductor Alexander Smallens at the Robin Hood Dell.[6] In December 1937 he portrayed Sharpless in Madama Butterfly at the Philadelphia Civic Grand Opera Company with Annunciata Garrotto as Cio-Cio-San and Lawrence Power as Pinkerton.[7] In 1938 he was committed to the touring San Carlo Opera Company (SCOC);[8] scoring particular success in the role of Escamillo in Carmen opposite Janet Fairbank in the title role.[9] He also portrayed the role of Amonasro in Aida with Bianca Saroya in the title role with the SCOC that season.[10] That same year he returned to the SCOC to perform the role of Germont in La traviata with Mary Henderson as Violetta.[11]
In February 1942 he performed at a meeting of The Verdi Club in New York City; a group founded and organized by Florence Foster Jenkins.[12] He performed with the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company (PLSOC) at the Academy of Music as Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana in January 1942,[13] and as Conte di Luna in Verdi's Il trovatore with Bernardo de Muro as Manrico in March 1942.[14] In 1943 he returned to the PLSOC as Escamillo to Jennie Tourel's Carmen.[15] That same year he returned to the SCOC as Ashton in Lucia di Lammermoor with Grace Panvini in the title role.[16] In 1944 he portrayed the title role in Rigoletto with the SCOC,[17] and also repeated the role of the Count di Luna.[18] In 1945 he performed the role of Alfio with the Chicago Opera Company with Ella Flesch as Santuzza.[19]
In 1946 he performed the role of Valentine in Faust with the SCOC with Mario Palermo in the title role,[20] and sand Escamillo to Coe Glade's Carmen with the same company.[21] In 1947 he performed the roles of Schaunard in La bohème and Tonio in Pagliacci at Carnegie Hall with Alfredo Salmaggi's opera company.[22][23] He was once again with the SCOC in 1949; notably portraying Sharpless in Madame Butterfly with Hizi Koyke in the title role.[24]
In 1952 he performed the role of Escamillo to Margery Mayer's Carmen for his debut at the New York City Opera under conductor Joseph Rosenstock.[25]
Personal life
On 2 August 1938 he married Maybelle Louise Iribe in Carson City, Nevada.[26][2] In 1939 he became a naturalized American citizen.[2]
Ballarini died at the age of 76 in Miami, Florida on 26 May 1979.[27][28]
References
- ^ Kutsch, K. J.; Riemens, Leo (2003). "Ballarini, Stefano". In Rost, Hansjörg (ed.). Grosses Sängerlexikon. Vol. Suvanny–Zysset. K. G. Saur Verlag. p. 225-226.
- ^ a b c Istvan Balla-Ballarini in the California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991
- ^ "Milan Enjoys a Varied Operatic Fare". The Musical Courier: 47. March 15, 1928.
- ^ "Carmen in Philadelphia". Musical America. Vol. 57, no. 5. March 10, 1937. p. 13.
- ^ "New York Stadium Season to Include Wagner Festival". The Musical Courier. Vol. 11, no. 19. May 8, 1937.
- ^ "Robin Hood Dell Presents Gala Offerings; Carmen Presented". The Musical Courier: 9. August 15, 1937.
- ^ "Civic Grand Opera in Butterfly". The Musical Courier: 11. January 1, 1938.
- ^ "San Francisco March Calendar Varried". The Musical Courier: 18. April 15, 1938.
- ^ "Janet Fairbank Wins Praise for Carmen Singing". Chicago Sunday Tribune. January 16, 1938. p. 16.
- ^ "San Carlo Fans are Treated to Excellent Aida". Chicago Tribune. January 7, 1938. p. 15.
- ^ "Verdi's Traviata Opens San Carlo Season of Opera". The Christian Science Monitor. September 8, 1945. p. 4.
- ^ "Verdi Club Holds Meeting". Musical America. Vol. 62, no. 4. February 25, 1942. p. 30.
- ^ "Philadelphia: La Scala Gives Pair of Works". Musical America. 62 (2). January 25, 1942.
- ^ William E. Smith (March 10, 1942). "Philadelphia". Musical America. 62 (5): 20.
- ^ Gustav Klemm. "Baltimore: Resident Orchestra and Visiting Opera Hailed". The Musical Courier. p. 21.
{{cite news}}: Text "date-January 15, 1943" ignored (help) - ^ "San Carlo Opera Company End Engagement". Musical America. November 10, 1943. p. 25.
- ^ "Opera, Individual Artists on Denny Watrous Schedule". Campbell Press. March 2, 1944. p. 4.
- ^ "Grand Opera: Il Trovatore". The Varsity. LXIV. University of Toronto: 1. November 27, 1944.
- ^ Elsa Borowski (November 15, 1945). "Chicago Opera Feted". The Musical Courier. p. 14.
- ^ M.S. (June 1946). "Double Bill". The Musical Courier: 25.
- ^ "San Carlo Opera Company". Warren Times Mirror. March 13, 1946. p. 2.
- ^ "Popular Operas Close Carnegie Hall Series". The Musical Courier: 19. August 1947.
- ^ "The Touch of the Maestro". The Musical Courier: 17. July 1947.
- ^ "Hizi Koyke Stands Out as Butterfly". The Washington Post. August 5, 1949. p. 2B.
- ^ Q. E. (November 15, 1952). "Debuts and New Casts In Final City Opera Weeks". Musical America: 22.
- ^ Maybelle Louise Iribe in the Carson City, Nevada, U.S., Marriage Index, 1855-1985, Marriage Record Number 39741719
- ^ Stephan Ballarini in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- ^ Stephan Ballarini in the Florida, U.S., Death Index, 1877-1998