Jagel studied voice in New York and in Milano, and made his debut as Federico Jeghelli in Livorno in 1924, as
Rodolfo. The next three years, "Jeghelli" divided his time between Italy and the Italian Opera in Holland.
In 1927, he was, now under his real name, hired by the Metropolitan Opera, where he spent the next 23 years up to his
retirement. Guest appearances in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco (regularly from 1930 onwards), Chicago, and at
the New York City Center Opera.
He was most appreciated in the Italian repertory, but particularly also as Herodes, and sang a variety of musical styles,
including Russian opera (the American premiere of Sorochinskaja jarmarka/The fair of Sorochyntsi, 1930), Wagner (Tristan,
Lohengrin, Tannhäuser), and contemporary opera (Peter Grimes, among many others). He took his 1950 farewell in the role
of his 1924 debut, as Rodolfo.
Reference: Kutsch & Riemens
I wish to thank Thomas Siverbörg for the Rigoletto and Lucia recordings.
Many thanks to Anton Bieber for the label scan and recording of The house on a hill.
Short chronology of Jagel's appearances as Jeghelli
1924 Livorno/T. Politeama Bohème (Rodolfo)
1924 Livorno/T. Politeama Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1925 Torino/T. Balbo Lucia di Lammermoor (Edgardo)
1926 Arezzo/T. Petrarca Gioconda (Enzo)
1926 Den Haag Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1926 Roma/T. Morgana Aida (Radames)
1926 Roma/T. Morgana Gioconda (Enzo)
1926 Roma/T. Morgana Manon Lescaut (des Grieux)
1927 Holland Iris (Osaka)
1927 Brindisi/T. Comunale Aida (Radames)
1927 Brindisi/T. Comunale Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1927 Taranto/T. Alhambra Aida (Radames)
1927 Taranto/T. Alhambra Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1928 Rio de Janeiro/T. Municipal Tosca (Cavaradossi)
1928 Rio de Janeiro/T. Municipal Loreley (Walter)
1928 Rio de Janeiro/T. Municipal Manon Lescaut (des Grieux)
1928 Rio de Janeiro/T. Municipal Norma (Pollione)
I would like to thank Roberto Marcocci for the biographical information.
