Giuseppina Gargano

Giuseppina Gargano (1 January 1853 — 14 September 1939) was an Italian opera singer, born Giuseppina D'Amico.

Giuseppina Gargano, from an 1885 publication.

Early life

Giuseppina D'Amico was born in Catania, the daughter of Pietro D'Amico and Anna Bonazinga D'Amico (1830-1906). Her parents were performers. Her father demonstrated mesmerism and hypnotism, and was founder of the Italian Magnetic Society. Her mother had a following as a clairvoyant ("chiaroveggente").[1] She studied voice at Bologna.[2]

Career

Giuseppina D'Amico was a teen in 1870, touring South America with her father's act, when she accepted a part in a production of La sonnambula in Montevideo. She sang the role of Gilda in Rigoletto next, and was soon performing in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro as well. She was called "la piccola Malibran" (the little Malibran), a comparison to Spanish singer Maria Malibran (1808-1836). She performance internationally, from South America to London, Madrid,[3] and Tbilisi, and all over Italy.[2]

"This lady possesses comedy powers," a London reviewer wrote, of her 1891 turn as Rosina in The Barber of Seville.[4] During her 1891 stay in London, she also appeared in Il Matrimonio Secreto and L'elisir d'amore.[5]

Personal life

Giuseppina D'Amico married Valerio Gargano in 1875, in Buenos Aires. They had two children, Emilia (1876-1962) and Vittorio (1886-1975).[2] Giuseppina Gargano died in 1939, aged 86 years. Her gravesite is with her parents' and children's graves at Certosa di Bologna.[6]

References
  1. Roberto Martorelli, "Anna Bonazinga" Storia e Memoria di Bologna (Dicembre 2016).
  2. Bruno Rovena, "Giuseppina Gargano, 'la piccola Malibran': Una diva dell'ottocento" Nuova Rivista Musicale Italiana 37(3)(July 2003): 401-418.
  3. Leonida, "Madrid" Asmodeo monitore settimanale dei teatri (11 Gennaio 1888): 6.
  4. "Italian Opera at the Shaftesbury Theatre" The Musical Times (November 1, 1891): 663.
  5. J. P. Wearing, The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel (Scarecrow Press 2013): 92, 93. ISBN 9780810892828
  6. Alessandro Cervellati, Certosa bianca e verde: Echi e aneddoti (Tamari 1967): 105.
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