Hina Spani

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Hina Spani, Argentine operatic soprano, born Puán, Province of Buenos Aires, 15 February 1896; died Buenos Aires, 11 July 1969. Her real name was Higinia Tuñón.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Recordings 3 Appreciation 4 References

[edit] Overview

She was born in an old town in the pampas, and when it was discovered that she had a clear, pleasing voice, a landowner from the vicinity of her home town agreed to help her study, first in Buenos Aires with Amalia Campodonico and later in Milan with Vittorio Moratti.

She made her operatic début at La Scala in 1915, in the secondary rôle of Anna in Alfredo Catalani's La Wally. She sang regularly in all the leading Italian theaters until 1934.

At the Teatro Colón she was herd between 1915 and 1940, creating the title part at the world première of Respighi's Maria Egiziaca in 1934, as well as several operas by Argentine composers. She sang over 70 rôles ranging from Ottavia in Monteverdi's L' incoronazione di Poppea to works by living composers.

In her post-singing days, she taught at the Escuela de Arte Escénico del Teatro Colón, which she directed.

[edit] Recordings

Some 40 sides for Italian Columbia and HMV. Reissues on Preiser and Pearl.

[edit] Appreciation

Her style and technique were typical of a Latin soprano of the 1920-1945 period, but her tone was smoother and her musicianship more subtle. She was a fine spinto with a constant appreciation of the expressive limits of the music she sang; as a result she gave an unusual combination of intensity and restraint which is quite individual and unique.

She had a vast concert repertory which she had been encouraged to acquire by her first teacher in Buenos Aires, Campodonico. Very little of this is documented on record (although she did leave a handful of lovely song recordings) but all who saw her in recital remember the joy of these occasions. In this, she was a real cosmopolitan.

[edit] References

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