Lodovico Giraud

Lodovico Giraud was bon in Parma on March 2, 1846. He was working in his twenties at the office of Domenico Fugazza, who appreciated music. Domenico Fugazza had him study singing first privately then with Giuseppe Griffini, professor at the Regia Scuola di Musica del Carmine starting November 1, 1867. His family could not affford to pay for the schooling. Giraud studied with great ardor. On February 28, 1871 he want to Milano where he made his debut a year later in Jone (Politeama). He had a good career thanks to the purity of his timbre, and a large squillo in operas such as Norma, Ernani, Trovatore, Aida and Ruy Blas. He was at the Regio in Parma for the seasons 1876-7 and 1879/80. He opened his first season on December 26 with Diana di Chaverny (composer Filippo Sangiorgi). The public disliked the work and it was a fiasco. However, in the following Trovatore and Jone, he was greeted with enthusiasm and was asked to come forward several times. During his second season in Parma, he repeated his success with Roberto il diavolo, and Nicolò De Lapi by Pacini. He sang at the Pagliano in Firenze, at the Brunetti in Bologna, at the Politeama in Genova, at the Malibran in Venezia, at the Ristori in Verona, at the Municpale in Piacenza, at the Politeama in Firenze. He also sang outside Italy: at the Prinicpal in Barcelona (1876), and in various countries in Latin America: Paraguay, Cuba, Mexico, and Brazil. He returned to Brazil in 1880 where he triumphed in Il Guarany. He gave to the Antique museum the costume and arms he received after singing Il Guarany. Two years later still in Latin America in Gualajara on October 15, 1882, he had an attack of yellow fever during the afternoon. As he had to sing Il trovatore that evening and the theater was fully booked, he refused to be replaced. Full of medicine, and despite the advice of both his doctor and his wife, Maria Givoni, he sang. He had a triumph and had to repeat the Pira. After the performance he collapsed and died on September 16. He was buried at the Pantheon in Belém with great popular attendance.
He was the father of Fiorello Giraud.

Reference: Dietro il sipario, 1881-1898, Memorie e appunti del segretario della Commissione Teatrale Giulio Ferrarini, a cura di Valerio Cervetti, Città di Parma, 1885