Nicola Zerola

Zerola began his career as a baritone and made his professional opera debut in 1898 at the Teatro Rossetti in Trieste as Tonio. This was soon followed by performances at the Teatro Comunale Florence and at other opera houses in the Italian provinces.

He made his debut as a tenor in 1903 as Canio.

He soon after undertook performances in Belgium, Egypt, Spain,

Holland:
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 1st performance 2 November 1905, Il trovatore, Baccini s., Esposito ms., Dadone/Pompa b., Boella/Banquels bs., Coniglio cond.
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 4 November 1905, Pagliacci, Agostinelli/Baccini/Marchesi-Coniglio s., Dadone b., Pompa b., Bartera t., Coniglio cond. (sharing with Isalberti)
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 11 November 1905, Otello, Marchesi-Coniglio s., Garagnani ms., Dadone b., Mauceri bs., Coniglio cond.
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 25 November 1905, Un ballo in maschera, Baccini s., Goretta ms., Mania s., Arrigheti b., Banquels bs., Mauceri bs, Wehils cond.
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 3 December 1905, Ernani, Baccini s., Dadone b., Lucenti bs., Coniglio cond.
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 26 December 1905, Aida, Baccini s., Goretta ms., Pompa b., Banquels bs., Mauceri bs., Coniglio cond.
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 6 January 1906, La Juive, Goretta s., ? s., ? t., Lucenti bs., ? cond.
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 27 January 1906, Les huguenots, ? s., ? s., ? ms., ? b. Lucenti bs., ? bs., Wehils cond.
Amsterdam, Paleis voor Volksvlijt, 25 February 1906, L'Africaine, Baccini s., Mania s., Dadone b., Wehils cond.

France:
Paris, Folies Dramatiques, 30 March 1909, Il trovatore, Alexina s., Monti-Bruner ms., Mieli b., Massia bs., Wehils cond. (total 3)
Paris, Folies Dramatiques, 3 April 1909, Norma, Alexina s., Monti-Bruner ms., Massia bs., Wehils cond. (total 3)
Paris, Trianon-Lyrique, 16 May 1909, Il trovatore, Alexina s., Monti-Bruner ms., Mieli b., Massia bs.

and South America.

In November 1908, he had a great success at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna as Radames to the Aida of Lucia Crestani.

17 novembre 1908, martedì
ripresa nel Teatro Comunale di Bologna di "Aida", melodramma in 4 atti e 7 quadri di Giuseppe Verdi, libretto di Antonio Ghislanzoni (da Auguste Mariette Bey e Camille Du Locle), dirige Edoardo Vitale, maestro concertatore Leopoldo Mugnone, sostituti Edoardo Valentini e Ferdinando Liuzzi, maestro del coro Paride Soffritti, regia di Ercole Masini, coreografia di Alba Vianello; soprano lirico drammatico Cecilia David/Lucia Crestani (Aida), mezzosoprano drammatico Ladislava Hotkoska (Amneris), tenore lirico Nicola Fusati/Icilio Calleja/Nicola Zerola/Davide Henderson (Radames), baritono eroico Domenico Viglione Borghese (Amonasro), bassi Sebastiano Cirotto (Re), Oreste Carozzi (Ramfis) e Pietro Audisio (messaggero)

In 1907, Zerola traveled with a small touring company to the United States with success. This led to his appointment to New York City's Manhattan Opera Company by Oscar Hammerstein in 1908.

He made his debut with the company in January 1909 at the Manhattan Opera House under conductor Giuseppe Sturani as Radames with Mariette Mazar and Marguerite d'Alvarez. He remained there until the company disolved in 1910.

He also sang with Hammerstein's Philadelphia Opera Company in 1909/10:
9 November 1909, Aida (season opening), Mazarin, d'Alvarez, Polese, Scott, de Grazia
25 November 1909, Pagliacci, Trentini, Polese, Malfatti, Crabbé
4 December 1909, Il trovatore, Grippon, Gerville-Réache, Sammarco. de Grazia, Sturani
14 December 1909, Pagliacci, Trentini, Sammarco, Fossetta, Venturini
23 December 1909, Il trovatore, Mazarin, d'Alvarez, Sammarco, De Grazia, Sturani
11 January 1910, Pagliacci, Cavalieri, Crabbé, Venturini, Polese, Anselmi
19 February 1910, Otello, Melis, Gentle, Polese, Venturini, Vallier, Sturani
19 March 1910 Gala (Il trovatore act 2, Doria, Sturani; Aida act 2, Mazarin, Doria, Polese, Scott, Sturani)
26 March 1910 Gala (aria concert)

On 21 November 1910, Zerola sang Radames again for his debut with the Chicago Grand Opera Company with Jeanne Korolowicz as Aida. He actively performed with the company through May 1911 in performances in both Chicago and Philadelphia.

Zerola in Baltimore with the Philadelphia-Chicago Grand Opera Company:
In January 1911, he opened the Baltimore Opera (Philadelphia-Chicago Grand Opera Company) new season as Radames:
26 January 1911, Aida, Korolowicz, de Cisneros, Sammarco, De Angelis, Campanini

Zerola in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia-Chicago Grand Opera Company :
28 January 1911, Il trovatore, Korolowicz, de Cisneros, Costa, Nicolay, Parelli
2 February 1911, Les huguenots, Korolowicz, Zeppilli, Di Angelo, Beck, Arimondi, Huberdeau, Perosio
15 February 1911, Aida, Korolowicz, de Cisneros, Costa, De Angelis, Berardi, Perosio
27 February 1911, Il trovatore, Korolowicz, de Cisneros, Galeffi, Nicolay, Parelli
4 March 1911, Aida, Gadski, de Cisneros, Dufranne, De Angelis, Berardi, Campanini
16 March 1911, International Song Recital (Zerola sang Triste ritorno, L'alba nascente, Mamma mia, Mattinata)

During 1911/12, he was at Covent Garden, where he performed the roles of Riccardo in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, Canio, Manrico, Otello, Radames, and Raoul de Nangis.

In 1920/21, Zerola was heard at the Metropolitan Opera:
26 December 1920 Concert (Zerola sang Vesti la giubba, Celeste Aida)
13 March 1921, Pagliacci with Marie Sundelius, Pasquale Amato, Mario Laurenti, Angelo Bada, Giulio Setti

Zerola in Philadelphia with the Italian Lyric Federation, Alfredo Salmaggi Company:
30 June 1920, Otello, Darclée, Paggi, Ballester, De Biasi, Ariani

Zerola in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia La Scala Grand Opera Company:
3 November 1924, Otello, Ligoti, Palma, Avitabile
5 October 1925, Pagliacci, Marbro, Palma, Dalle Molle, Guerrieri

Zerola in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia – New York Grand Opera Co.:
10 January 1925, Il trovatore, Vergeri, Palma, dell'Orefice

Zerola in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia National Grand Opera Company:
7 February 1925, Aida, Vergeri, Eaton, Palma, Ruisi, Dell'Orefice

On 9 April 1928, he sang the role of Prinzivalle in the New York premiere of Henry Février's Monna Vanna.

He died in New York City in 1936.
References: MET Database online
Hamilton's Philadelphia chronology
Kutsch & Riemens
Wikipedia
Amadeus online (the site still exists, but the relevant information is no longer available there)

I wish to thank Tom Silverbörg for the recording (Pagliacci).

I wish to thank Daniele Godor for the recording (Niun mi tema).

G&T, Milano, 27 April 1909
13137b   Il trovatore: Di quella pira		unpublished

G&T, Milano, 28 April 1909
13143b   Il trovatore: Perigliarti ancora       unpublished
         with Carolina Pietracewska

G&T, Milano, 29 April 1909
1816c    Norma: Meco all'altar                  2-052020
13158b   Il trovatore: Ah sì, ben mio		unpublished
13159b   Il trovatore: Perigliarti ancora       54410
         with Carolina Pietracewska

Victor, Camden or New York City, 1 November 1909
C8302-2  Otello: Niun mi tema      		88202, 74217, 55133, 2-052019
B8304-2  Il trovatore: Di quella pira     	87045, 64170, 45218, 7-52007
B8337-1  Un ballo in maschera: Di' tu se fedele	87036, 64166, 7-52008
B8338-1  Un ballo in maschera: La rivedrà	87037, 64167, 7-52005
B8389-1  Il trovatore: Deserto sulla terra     	64172, 45218, 7-52012
B8390-1  Otello: Ora e per sempre     		87046, 64168, 45219, 7-52006
C8391-1	 Andrea Chénier: Improvviso		88243, 74216, 55134, 2-052030

Victor, Camden or New York City, 17 December 1909
C8493-1  Aida: La fatal pietra … Morir sì pura	74225, 55133, 2-052029

Victor, Camden or New York City, 3 March 1910
B8492-3  Samson et Dalila: Figli miei     	64173, 7-52011
B8682-2  Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba     	87064, 64169, 45217, 7-52010

Victor, Camden or New York City, 10 March 1911
B10037-1 L'alba nascente (Parelli)		64207, 45219       
B10038-1 Pagliacci: Un tal gioco      		64206, 45217, 7-52167
C10039-2 Pagliacci: No, Pagliaccio non son      74247, 55134, 2-052188