Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini

Picture of Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini
Lenghi-Cellini used to be a mystery tenor for a very long time. Due to some of his discography, he was sometimes thought to be English. Though his English is not very idiomatic indeed... but admittedly, his Italian is sometimes strange, too. Nonetheless, he actually was Italian: born Giuseppe Lenghi in Modena on June 13th, 1881. (That's the date he gave himself, officially. I doubt it, see below.) Having studied in Bologna, he was a doctor of law, and a barrister before choosing tenor as his new profession. He made his debut in 1907 in Pistoia, as Duca in Rigoletto (his favorite role), and sang in the Italian provinces for a few years before moving to London in fall 1909. Coming back to the date-of-birth-issue... if he made his law doctorate, became a lawyer, and made his Pistoia debut nonetheless at age 26, then he must have studied extraordinarily quickly (both law and voice). I assume he was a few years older in reality. Anyway, he made his London debut on October 9th, 1909, at a Chappell Ballad Concert, and became subsequently a famous music hall tenor in London and the English provinces. In 1912, he sang two roles at Covent Garden, using the name Giuseppe Cellini, Canio (a strange choice) and Don José; from then on, he used the name Lenghi-Cellini. In 1924, he made an "Australasian tour", giving concerts with the violinist Zacharewitsch and the pianist Pietro Cimara, at least in New Zealand (Christchurch on June 14th) and Australia (Melbourne on July 14th).

References:
- National Library of New Zealand
- The Argus (Melbourne newspaper), 14 July 1924
- Musical islands: exploring connections between music, place and research. Edited by Elizabeth Mackinlay, Brydie-Leigh Bartleet and Katelyn Barney, Newcastle upon Tyne 2009
- Henry Saxe Windham: Who's who in music. A biographical record of contemporary musicians, London 1913

Lenghi-Cellini's late recordings (the electric Piccadillys in particular) are not for the faint of heart; these are certainly some of the weirdest, unruliest tenor recordings ever made, and few of them could be called beautiful. Nonetheless, because of their rarity, they are documented here (you may, however, prefer to stick to the acoustic recordings!).
Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Faust: Salve, dimora
In RA format

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Morning was gleaming
In RA format

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings La Gioconda: Cielo e mar
In RA format

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings La favorite: Spirto gentil
In RA format

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Ideale

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Chanson de l'adieu

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Il trovatore: Di quella pira 1
In RA format

Look at the label! One of the most bizarre misspellings ever.
Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Il trovatore: Di quella pira 2

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings L'elisir d'amore: Una furtiva lagrima
In RA format

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Rigoletto: Questa o quella

Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini sings Madama Butterfly: Here I have caught you, with Doris Carter 

Discography
Parlophon/Beka, London, August 1911
2-9003	 Where my caravan has rested (Löhr)					unpublished
2-9004	 Rigoletto (Verdi): Questa o quella					unpublished
2-9005	 I'll sing thee songs of Araby (Clay)					E9005, M44 (Beka)
2-9006	 I know a lovely garden (d'Hardelot)					E9006, M44 (Beka)
2-9007	 Mignon (Thomas): Ah non credevi tu					E9007, P1134, M50 (Beka)
2-9008	 Mignon (Thomas): Addio, Mignon						E9008, P1134, M50 (Beka)
2-9020	 Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere (w. Doris Carter)				unpublished
2-9021	 Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Here I have caught you (w. Doris Carter)	E9021
2-9022   Traviata (Verdi): Parigi, o cara (w. Doris Carter)			E9022, P383, M45 (Beka)



2-9023	 Faust (Gounod): Let me gaze (w. Doris Carter)				E9023
2-9024	 Carmen (Bizet): My mother I behold (w. Doris Carter)			P383
2-9029	 Trovatore (Verdi): Home to our mountains (w. Jessie Broughton)		E9029, P292, M45 (Beka)

Parlophon/Beka, London, October 1911
2-9042	 Rigoletto (Verdi): Questa o quella					E9042, P304, M55 (Beka), 5001 (Scala)
2-9044	 In sympathy (Leoni)							unpublished
2-9045	 In sympathy (Leoni)							P9045, M53 (Beka), 5025 (Scala)
2-9046	 Where my caravan has rested (Löhr)					M53 (Beka)
2-9047	 Where my caravan has rested (Löhr)					P9047

Parlophon/Beka, London, November 1911
2-9057	 Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile					M55 (Beka), 5001 (Scala)
2-9057-2 Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile					E9057, P304
2-9058	 Bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina					unpublished
2-9059	 Because (d'Hardelot)							E9059, M62 (Beka), 5018 (Scala)

Parlophon/Beka, London, January 1912
2-9063 	 Lolita (Buzzi-Peccia)							M117 (Beka), 8093 (Ariel)
2-9064	 Songs my mother taught me (Dvořák)					unpublished
2-9065 	 Thora (Adams)								E9065, M62 (Beka)

Parlophon/Beka, London, June 1912
2-9082	 Chanson triste (Duparc)						unpublished
2-9083	 Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia					E9083, P1135, M91 (Beka)
2-9084 	 Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle					E9084, P1135, M91 (Beka)    
2-9086 	 Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Mi par d'udir ancora			E9086, E10154, P1136, M78 (Beka)
2-9086-2 Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Mi par d'udir ancora			M78 (Kalophone)
2-9087 	 Manon (Massenet): Chiudo gli occhi 					E9087, P1136, M101 (Beka)
2-9088 	 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba				E9088, P308, M97 (Beka)
2-9089 	 Carmen (Bizet): See here thy flow'ret					E9089
2-9089-2 Carmen (Bizet): See here thy flow'ret					M78 (Kalophone), M78 (Beka)
2-9090 	 Carmen (Bizet): Il fior che avevi a me tu dato				E9090, E10065, P1129

Parlophon/Beka, London, July 1912
2-9204 	 Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar					E9204, P1129, M86 (Beka), 5017 (Scala), 1671 (Scala De Luxe)
2-9205 	 Favorite (Donizetti): Spirto gentil					E9205, E10042, P223, M86 (Beka), 5017 (Scala), 1671 (Scala De Luxe)
2-9206 	 Faust (Gounod): Salve, dimora						E9206, E10042, P1138, M81 (Beka)
2-9207 	 Bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina					E9207, P1138, M101 (Beka), 8046 (Ariel)
2-9208 	 Elisir d'amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima			E9208, P223, P1137, M90/M128 (Beka)
2-9209 	 Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola				E9209, E10386, P230, P307, M97 (Beka), 8052 (Ariel)
2-9210 	 Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida						E9210, P306, M81 (Beka)
2-9211 	 Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Com'è gentil					E9211, E10044, P1139, M128 (Beka)
2-9212 	 Traviata (Verdi): Dei miei bollenti spiriti				E9212, E10065, M90 (Beka), P250, P1139
2-9213 	 Mefistofele (Boito): Giunto sul passo estremo				E9213, P1128, M90 (Beka)
2-9214 	 Favorite (Donizetti): Una vergine					E9214, P1137

Parlophon/Beka, London, February 1913
2-9260 	 Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Morning was gleaming		E9260
2-9261 	 Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Let her believe				E9261, M105 (Beka), 1675 (Scala De Luxe)
2-9262 	 Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Farewell, o happy home			E9262, M105 (Beka), 1675 (Scala De Luxe)
2-9263 	 Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Addio, fiorito asil			E9263
2-9264	 Songs my mother taught me (Dvořák)					M142 (Beka), 5002 (Scala)

Parlophon/Beka, London, May 1913
2-9293 	 Manon (Massenet): Ah dispar, vision					E9293, P1130
2-9294 	 Stabat mater (Rossini): Cuius animam					E9294, P1133, M130 (Beka)
2-9295 	 Requiem (Verdi): Ingemisco						E9295, P1133, M130 (Beka)
2-9296 	 Mattinata (Leoncavallo)						E9296, P1132, M117 (Beka), 8093 (Ariel)

Marathon, London, about May 1913
2051  	Mignon (Thomas): Ah non credevi tu					2049
2052  	Carmen (Bizet): Il fior che avevi a me tu dato				2041
2053  	Bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina					2049
2054  	Faust (Gounod): Salve, dimora						2041
 
Parlophon/Beka, London, September 1913
2-9383 	 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): O Colombina					E9383, E10045, P308, M123 (Beka), 8115 (Ariel)
2-9384 	 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): No, Pagliaccio non son			E9384, E10045, P309, M123 (Beka), 8115 (Ariel)
2-9385 	 Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Donna non vidi mai				E9385, E10154, P1131
2-9387 	 Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Ah Manon, mi tradisce				E9387, P1131

Parlophon/Beka, London, September 1913
2-9425	 Werther (Massenet): Ah non mi ridestar					E9425
2-9426	 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Un tal gioco					E9426

Parlophon/Beka, London, December 1913
2-9473 	 Rigoletto (Verdi): Ella mi fu rapita					E9473, P305
2-9474 	 Rigoletto (Verdi): Parmi veder						E9474, P305
2-9475 	 Mefistofele (Boito): Dai campi, dai prati				E9475, P1128, M148 (Beka)
2-9476 	 Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni): Viva il vino				E9476, E10386, P307
2-9477 	 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Un tal gioco					E9477, P309
2-9479 	 Trovatore (Verdi): Ah sì, ben mio					E9479, P1127, M163 (Beka)
2-9480 	 Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira					E9480, P1127, M163 (Beka)
2-9481 	 Leise flehen meine Lieder, in English (Schubert)			E9481, P1132, M142 (Beka), 5002 (Scala)
2-9482 	 Africaine (Meyerbeer): O paradiso					E9482, E10044, P306
2-9483 	 Werther (Massenet): Ah non mi ridestar					E9483, P1130, M148 (Beka)

Parlophon/Beka, London, February 1914
2-9495	 The picture in my heart (Wilson)					E9495, M170 (Beka), 5033 (Scala), G1012 (Regal)
2-9497 	 Macushla (MacMurrough)							M156 (Beka)
2-9498	 I hear you calling me (Marshall)					E9498, M170 (Beka), 5025 (Scala), G1008 (Regal)
2-9502	 Nirvana (Adams)							M156 (Beka), 5018 (Scala)

Marathon, London, 1914
2116  	Mignon (Thomas): Addio, Mignon						2066
2117  	Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Mi par d'udir ancora			2066
2121  	Favorite (Donizetti): E sia vero? (w. Henry Lane Wilson)		2054
2122  	Mefistofele (Boito): Se tu mi doni (w. Henry Lane Wilson)		2054
2125  	Africaine (Meyerbeer): O paradiso					2062
21??  	Rigoletto (Verdi): Questa o quella					2056
21??  	Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile					2056
21??  	Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida						2061
21??  	Elisir d'amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima				2061
2131  	Favorite (Donizetti): Spirto gentil					2062

Parlophon/Beka, London, November 1915
2-9589	 'O sole mio (Di Capua)							M173 (Beka)
2-9590	 Lucia (Luzzi)								M173 (Beka)
2-9591	 For you alone (Geehl)							E9591, M174 (Beka), G1003 (Regal)
2-9592	 Summer dreams (Wood)							M176 (Beka), 5032 (Scala), 1678 (Scala De Luxe)
2-9594	 Maire, my girl (Aitken)						E9594, M176 (Beka), G1008 (Regal), 5032 (Scala), 1678 (Scala De Luxe)
2-9595	 Mother o' mine (Tours)							E9595, G1012 (Regal)
2-9602	 Fenesta che lucive (composer unknown)					M177 (Beka), 5034 (Scala)
2-9603	 Tre cicisbei ridicoli (Ciampi): Tre giorni son che Nina		M177 (Beka), 5034 (Scala)
2-9604	 Princess of the sunny smile (Leoni)					M184 (Beka), 1677 (Scala)
2-9606	 I hear a thrush at eve (Cadman)					M184 (Beka), 1677 (Scala)
2-9607	 The garden of your heart (Dorel)					E9607, M174 (Beka), G1003 (Regal)

Vocalion, London, June/July 1920
01873 	 Manon (Massenet): Chiudo gli occhi					A-0117
01874 	 Manon (Massenet): Chiudo gli occhi					A-0117, C-01064, K-05152
01876 	 Faust (Gounod): Salve, dimora						A-0146, C-01069, K-05152
01903 	 Aida: Celeste Aida							A-0111, C-01061
	 Rigoletto (Verdi): Questa o quella					A-0142, C-01067
01905 	 Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile					A-0112, C-01062, J-04113
	 Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar					A-0152, C-01071

Vocalion, London, about August 1921
02351 	 Bohème (Puccini): O Mimì (w. George Baker)				A-0160, C-01073, J-04105
02353 	 Forza del destino (Verdi): Solenne in quest'ora (w. George Baker)	A-0170, C-01080, J-04105

Vocalion, London, 1922
02731 	 Tosti: Ideale								R-6090
02732 	 Tosti: Chanson de l'adieu						R-6090
02842 	 Mignon (Thomas): Addio, Mignon						L-5034, Y-8100

Vocalion, London, date unknown
	 Carmen (Bizet): Il fior						A-0177, C-01078
	 Mignon (Thomas): Ah non credevi tu					C-01091, J-04113
	 Mefistofele (Boito): Dai campi						B-3016, L-5033, Y-8100
	 I hear you calling me (Marshall)					D-02109
	 In sympathy (Leoni)							D-02109
	 Macushla (MacMurrough)							R-6095
	 Where my caravan has rested (Löhr)					R-6095

Coliseum, London, May 1919
37012  	 For you alone (Geehl)							1121, Venus 1593
37014  	 Life has sent me many roses (Löhr)					1121, Venus 1593

Piccadilly, London, 1929
1809-2 	 Favorite (Donizetti): Una vergine					251
1810   	 Mignon (Thomas): Addio, Mignon						250
1811-2 	 Elisir d'amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima				252
1812-2 	 Rigoletto (Verdi): Questa o quella					252
1813   	 Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile					250, 5056
1814   	 Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni): Viva il vino				251
3309-2 	 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba				5019
3310   	 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): O Colombina					5019
3555   	 Martha (Flotow): M'apparì						5056
3556-2 	 Trovatore (Verdi): Ah sì, ben mio					5032
3559   	 Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira					5032

I wish to thank Anton Bieber for the catalog scan, the label scans and the recordings (Butterfly, Ideale, Di quella pira 2, Chanson de l'adieu, Rigoletto).
I wish to thank Mark Chetwood for the discographical information.
I wish to thank Dr. Eduardo M Herrera for additions to the discography.
Further substantial additions to the discography from Gesellschaft für historische Tonträger, Wien
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