Ciannella was a graduate of Bologna University in engineering; by pure chance, he met Mirella
Freni at a private party. The result of that encounter was that he took voice lessons with Leone Magiera at the Bologna
academy of music, and later with Carlo Bergonzi.
Ciannella made his debut as Edgardo at the Teatro Nuovo in Milano, in 1974. Two years later, he already sang Cassio at La
Scala. Via Genova, Venice and Parma, he arrived at the Metropolitan Opera in 1979, where he sang no less than 111 performances
until 1986 (plus one single in 1996).
Also elsewhere, he had an excellent career: Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Maggio musicale, Arena di Verona, Bregenz Festival,
Munich Staatsoper, Hamburg, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Covent Garden... and above all the Vienna Staatsoper, where he appeared
regularly from 1985 onwards – until 1991, by which time his career was essentially over, although he would very
occasionally sing on for a few more years, before becoming a voice teacher at the conservatories of Parma and Ferrara.
Having heard him a few times, I was not at all surprised that his career was so short (rather that it was so prominent!). His
voice was under constant pressure, its placement was deficient, and the way he pushed the top notes must have been hurtful for
himself, but was definitely hurtful for the ears of the listener.
His repertory included Manrico, Riccardo, Don Carlo, Radames, Ernani, Puccini's des Grieux, Rodolfo, Cavaradossi, Calaf,
Gounod's Faust, Don José, Raoul (!) or Rossini's Otello (!).
Reference 1, reference 2: Kutsch &
Riemens
