Ettore Panizza

Ettore Panizza (August 12, 1875, Buenos Aires - December 27, 1967, Buenos Aires) was an Argentinian conductor and composer, one of the leading conductors of the early 20th century.

Panizza studied first with his father, who was a cellist at the Teatro Colon, and later in Milan with Galli, Saladino, and Ferroni. He made his debut as assistant conductor at the Rome Opera in 1897.

He was closely associated with La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. He also made guest appearances in Vienna, Berlin, etc.

Among the many creations he conducted are "Francesca da Rimini" by Riccardo Zandonai, "Sly" by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, "The Island God" by Gian Carlo Menotti. He also conducted many local premieres in London, New York, and Milan such as "Khovantchina" and "La campana sommersa", etc. He worked with singers such as Alessandro Bonci, Enrico Caruso, Nellie Melba, Ezio Pinza, Beniamino Gigli.

Panizza also composed four operas; "Il fidanzato del mare" (Buenos Aires 1897), "Madioevo Latino" (Genoa 1900), "Aurora" (Buenos Aires 1908), his most successful work, and "Bizanzio" ( Buenos Aires 1939).

He published his autobiography "Medio Siglo de Vida Musical" in 1952.

ources

* "Le guide de l'opéra", R. Mancini & J-J. Rouvereux, (Fayard, 1986), ISBN 2-213-01563-6