Josephine Lucchese

Josephine Lucchese (July 24, 1893 – September 10, 1974) was an American operatic soprano who had an active international singing career during the 1920s and 1930s. A skilled coloratura soprano, she was particularly admired for her portrayals of Rosina in ''The Barber of Seville'', Violetta in ''La traviata'', and the title role in ''Lucia di Lammermoor''. She began her opera career in 1920 with the San Carlo Opera Company; a touring opera company in the United States. She was a resident artist with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company from 1929 to 1932, and was a principal artist with the Dutch National Opera during the 1930s. She also appeared as a guest artist with American and European opera houses during her career.

Early life

Josephine Lucchese was born on July 24, 1893, in San Antonio, Texas. (modified on October 26, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Her father, Sam Lucchese, was an Italian-born immigrant who founded the Lucchese Boot Company.Lucchese Boot Company: Our history
/ref>''The Italian Texans''
San Antonio, Texas: Institute of Texan Cultures, p. 27 In her youth she learned how to play the mandolin and the piano, and studied singing with Virginia Colombati. She was educated at the Main Avenue High School in San Antonio.Yves Gerem
''A Marmac Guide to San Antonio''
Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing, 2001, pp. 165-166

Career

At the age of 18, Lucchese traveled with Colombati to New York City to pursue further studies in music with Yeatman Griffith. She made her professional singing debut soon after at Aeolian Hall in Manhattan on November 26, 1919, giving a recital of art songs and arias; including pieces from ''The Magic Flute'', ''La sonnambula'' and Félicien David's ''La perle du Brésil''. A year later, on September 22, 1920, she made her professional opera debut as Olympia in Jacques Offenbach's ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' with Fortune Gallo's touring San Carlo Opera Company at the Manhattan Opera House. She remained under contract with that company for the next five years; performing across the United States and Canada in such roles as Gilda in ''Rigoletto'', Lady Harriet Durham in ''Martha'', Micaëla in ''Carmen'', Rosina in ''The Barber of Seville'', Violetta in ''La traviata'', and the title role in ''Lucia di Lammermoor''.

In 1925 Lucchese performed Violetta to 's Alfredo at the Academy of Music in the very first performance of the Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company.New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: ''Folder: Philadelphia La Scala Opera Company'' In 1926 she made her debut with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company (PGOC) as Gilda to Millo Picco's Rigoletto. She later became a resident artist with the PGOC from 1929 until the company's bankruptcy in 1932, performing such roles as Konstanze in ''The Abduction from the Seraglio'', Leïla in ''Les pêcheurs de perles'', Rosina, Violetta, and the title role in ''Lakmé'' among others.Free Library of Philadelphia: ''Folder: Philadelphia Grand Opera Company 1916–1934 miscellaneous'' In 1933 she appeared in concert performances of ''Rigoletto'' and ''La traviata'' with the Philadelphia Orchestra before once again becoming a member of the San Carlo Opera Company. In 1939 she was a principal artist with Vito Parisi's Imperial Grand Opera Company.

Lucchese gave her first performance outside of the United States at the Teatro Nacional de Cuba in Havana, Cuba as Ophelia in Ambroise Thomas's ''Hamlet'' in 1923. She sang in another Thomas opera for her first performances in Europe; appearing as Philine in ''Mignon'' in a tour of German cities in 1927-1928. During the 1930s she was a resident artist with the Dutch National Opera and appeared as a guest artist at several opera houses in the Netherlands. She also appeared in opera houses in Berlin, Hamburg, and Prague. She became known as 'The American Nightingale' in Europe.

Lucchese appeared as a guest artist in opera performances in several American cities during her career, including appearances at the Detroit Opera House and the Cincinnati Opera. Other roles she performed on stage during her career include Norina in ''Don Pasquale'' and Mimi in Puccini's ''La Bohème''. Her notable stage partners included Tito Schipa and Giovanni Martinelli. She also sang in concerts with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra.

From 1956 to 1971, Lucchese taught singing at the University of Texas.Frank and Linda Faulkner
''San Antonio Cemeteries Historic District''
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2014, p. 64 One of her notable pupils was tenor Bruce Brewer.

Personal life

Lucchese was married twice: first to Adolfo Caruso, followed by Florentine Donato.

Death

She died on September 10, 1974, in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

References

External links

*
Dictionary of American Historical Recordings

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucchese, Josephine
1893 births
1974 deaths
Singers from Texas
Musicians from San Antonio
American operatic sopranos
American people of Italian descent
University of Texas at San Antonio faculty
20th-century American women opera singers
Classical musicians from Texas
American women academics