Aureliano Pertile - Recondita armonia (Columbia, 1933)

Aureliano Pertile (1885-1952) was a celebrated Italian tenor who enjoyed a 35 year career in major theaters on both sides of the Atlantic. The son of a poor shoemaker and his wife, Pertile was born in Montagnana…just a few blocks away and 18 days after the birth of fellow tenor Giovanni Martinelli. His vocal talents were apparent from a very early age. In 1894, Pertile began singing alto with the choir of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. At his parents’ insistence, he apprenticed as a goldsmith during his teens, but continued singing. At age 20, he was heard by composer Vittorio Orefice, who invited the young man to study with him in Padua. After five years of work, Pertile made his debut as Lionel in Martha at Vicenza’s Teatro Eretenio on February 16, 1911. In May, he sang the role of Vinicius in the Italian premiere of Jean Nouguès’ Quo Vadis? at Milan’s Teatro dal Verme. Reviews were stellar and the tenor’s career took off quickly. Over the next two years, Pertile made appearances in Brescia, Torino, Asti, Padua and Genoa, with his international debut occurring in Santiago as des Grieux in Manon Lescaut during the fall of 1913. While in South America, the tenor also sang in Buenos Aires and Valparaiso in such works as Un Ballo in Maschera, Mefistofele, Tosca, and La Traviata. Late in 1913, Pertile returned to Italy, where he spent the next few years appearing in Naples, Palermo, Florence, Bologna, and Rome. His La Scala debut occurred on February 22, 1916 as Paolo in...