Oreste Kirkop

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monument to Oreste Kirkop in Ħamrun, Malta.

Oreste Kirkop (actually Oreste Chircop ; born July 26, 1923 in Ħamrun ; † May 10, 1998 ) was a Maltese opera singer (lyrical tenor ).

Life

He was the sixth of ten children of Jean Chircop and his wife Fortunata Panzavecchia. Oreste discovered his singing talent when he sang in the bunkers of Malta during World War II . Then he took singing lessons from Nicolo Baldachino . As a singer he made his debut on February 25, 1945 at Radio City Opera House in Ħamrun as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana . In 1948 he met the baritone Joseph Satariano, who encouraged him to become an opera singer in Great Britain . From 1949 to 1950 Oreste Kirkop sang operas in various Italian vocal ensembles and appeared in concerts with Tito Gobbi and Maria Caniglia . In 1950 he moved to the United Kingdom and sang leading roles in the Carl Rosa Opera Company , and around 1952 with Sadler's Wells , including Turiddu, Mario Cavaradossi, and Rodolfo in Luisa Miller . In 1954 he made his debut in Covent Garden as Duke in Rigoletto and shortly afterwards as Rodolfo in La Bohème .

In 1956 he played the main role of François Villon in the film The King of the Vagabonds . He has appeared in operas in Las Vegas and the Hollywood Bowl . On television, Oreste Kirkop sang and starred in the groundbreaking opera productions of Madame Butterfly , La traviata and Rigoletto produced by NBC .

In 1958 he returned to Covent Garden . In 1960 he withdrew completely from the concert business on the advice of his doctors.

Private life

Oreste Kirkop married his wife Therese on August 15, 1963 in Malta. With her he had two daughters.

literature

  • Maltese Biographies Of The Twentieth Century. Malta 1997, p. 357.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Emy Scicluna: Oreste Kirkop. operavivra.com, January 21, 2016, accessed January 26, 2020 .
  2. ^ A b Maltese Biographies Of The Twentieth Century. Malta 1997, p. 357.
personal data
SURNAME Kirkop, Oreste
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Chircop, Oreste (original name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Maltese opera singer (tenor)
DATE OF BIRTH July 26, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH Ħamrun
DATE OF DEATH May 10, 1998