Nicola Zerola
| Nicola Zerola | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1876 Naples |
| Died | 21 July 1936 New York City |
| Nationality |
 Italian
|
| Occupation | Opera singer (Tenor) |
Nicola Zerola (1876 – 21 July 1936) was an Italian operatic tenor who had an active international career from 1898-1928. He began his career in his native country, but was soon heard in concerts and operas internationally during the first years of the 20th century. In 1908 he relocated to the United States where he was active with important opera companies in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia up into the late 1920s. In 1910 he recorded several selections from Verdi's Otello for the Victor Talking Machine Company. He also made 11 solo recordings and one duet for the Gramophone and Typewriter Company in 1910-1911.
Born in Naples, Zerola began his career as a baritone and made his professional opera debut in 1898 at the Teatro Rossetti in Trieste as Tonio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. This was soon followed by performances at the Teatro Comunale Florence and at other opera houses in the Italian provinces. He made his debut as a tenor in 1903 in the role of Canio in Pagliacci. He soon after undertook performances in Belgium, Egypt, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and South America. In November 1908 he had a great success at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna as Radamès to the Aida of Lucia Crestani.
In 1907 Zerola traveled with a small touring company to the United States where he was lauded by critics and audiences. This led to his appointment to New York City's Manhattan Opera Company by Oscar Hammerstein I in 1908. He made his debut with the company in January 1909 at the Manhattan Opera House under conductor Giuseppe Sturani as Radames to the Aida of Mariette Mazarin and Amneris of Marguerite d'Alvarez. He remained there until the company went bankrupt in 1910; singing such roles as Manrico in Verdi's Il trovatore and the title role in Verdi's Otello. He also sang with Hammerstein's Philadelphia Opera Company in 1909-1910. He made his debut with that company as Canio in Pagliacci with Emma Trentini as Nedda at the Philadelphia Opera House on November 25, 1909.
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