Travel tips for opera lovers – London and Luisa Tetrazzini

Luisa Tetrazzini in London

The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Luisa Tetrazzini in London.

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

Luisa Tetrazzini in London

Luisa Tetrazzini was one of the great stars of the opera world of the early twentieth century. She was a gifted coloratura soprano and the great rival of Nellie Melba. In 1907 she sang a surprise debut at Covent Garden that caught her Australian rival on the wrong foot. Nellie Melba then taunted her full-figured rival at a party by getting down on all fours and showing how the horse in “Les Huguenots” had to fight to carry Luisa Tetrazzini. Tetrazzini commented dryly, “Some have the figure, others have the voice.”

Listen to a sample of Luisa Tetrazzini’s voice in the excursus below.

Luisa Tetrazzini:

Destination Savoy London

The Savoy in London, located near Convent Garden, was the hotel of opera stars. Tetrazzini’s arrival with her pet went down in the annals of the hotel. It was a crocodile and is said to have spent the night in the swimming pool.

All the legendary opera stars since 1890 have stayed here.

Savoy (historic picture):

https://www.thesavoylondon.com/

Musical background: Tetrazzini the canary of the twenties

Bellini composed for the finale of his opera “La sonnambula” a bravura aria with great leaps of tone, trills and top notes. Listen to Luisa Tetrazzini, the greatest “canary” of the twenties. There was no height or coloratura she could not sing. It is a pleasure to listen to her bird song from 1911.

Ah non giunge – Lusia Tetrazzini

https://opera-inside.com/la-sonnambula-by-vincenzo-bellini-the-opera-guide-and-synopsis/#Tetrazzini