09.06.2021
Italian opera singer Titta Ruffo - under the heading "Desuete Names"
Italian opera singer Titta Ruffo was born in Pisa on June 9, 1877. He had an opulent voice, remarkable for its range and richness, a well-developed breathing technique and clear intonation. The singer was genius for acting. In combination with an ideally trained voice, he created truly vivid stage images (from tragic and dramatic to satirical and even comedic). Ruffo repertoire included practically all classic baritone parts: Figaro (“The Barber of Seville”), Rigoletto (considered one of the best performers), Di Luna, Iago, Germont, Amonasro, Tonio, Don Carlo (“La forza del destino”), and others. Ruffo made a number of musical recordings, some of them are stored in theSound Library of the museum Collection. For the birthday of Titta Ruffo we have prepared a musical selection, which includes opera arias performed by the recognized master of opera singing.
Verdi Opera House in Pisa houses a collection of costumes in which Ruffo performed, rare photographs, posters and other things associated with the name of the singer.
After completing his singing career, T. Ruffo wrote an autobiographical book of memoirs "The Parabola of My Life". The memoirs, written vividly and directly, contain sketches of theatrical life of the first third of the 20th century, portraits of famous masters of vocal art and theatrical figures, descriptions of opera premieres and ordinary performances.
Together with Enrico Caruso and Fyodor Chaliapin, Titta Ruffo is ranked as the best operatic master of the first third of the twentieth century.