Nina Morgana
Nina Morgana (November 15, 1891 – July 8, 1986) was an American soprano, a protégée of Enrico Caruso, who sang with the Metropolitan Opera for fifteen seasons, from 1920 to 1935. She was of Italian descent.
Early life
Nina Morgana was born and raised in Buffalo, New York,[1][2] the daughter of Sicilian immigrants Calogero (Charles) and Concetta Morgana.[3] She was a child performer in the "Venice in America" exhibit[4] at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901.[5] In 1906, she sang at a concert in Buffalo to benefit the survivors of the San Francisco earthquake that year.[6] In 1908, Morgana auditioned for the great operatic tenor Enrico Caruso while he was in Buffalo to perform a concert. Caruso, believing her voice had great potential, sent a letter on her behalf to the retired soprano Teresa Arkel, who accepted the young Morgana as a student at her estate in Milan. Morgana studied voice with Arkel from 1909 to 1913.[7]
The soprano's siblings included Dante J. Morgana, M.D., a prominent eye surgeon based in Buffalo, Charles Morgana, a Ford Motor Company executive selected personally by Henry Ford, and David Morgana, who became a Trappist monk.[8]
Career
During her vocal training in Italy, Teresa Arkel recommended her to conductor
In 1926, Morgana sued Chadwick Pictures for a silent film called The Midnight Girl (1925), in which a singer character named "Nina Morgana" is portrayed by actress Dolores Cassinelli as "debauched" and "passé".[12]
Personal life
In June, 1921, Nina Morgana married Bruno Zirato, Caruso's personal secretary and later general manager of the New York Philharmonic, where he also served as personal representative of conductor Arturo Toscanini.[13] Caruso, who was in Italy recuperating from a serious illness when Morgana and Zirato were married, served as best man in absentia at their wedding. Caruso suffered a relapse and died in Naples on August 2, 1921, around seven weeks after the wedding.[14] Bruno Zirato died in November, 1972;[15] Nina Morgana died in Ithaca, New York in July, 1986, at age 94. She was survived by her son, Bruno Zirato Jr. (1922-2008),[7][5] a television producer with Goodson-Todman Associates.
References
- ^ "Nina Morgana" Pan-American Exposition 1901 (University at Buffalo Libraries).
- Newspapers.com
- ^ a b c d "The James A. Drake Interviews: Nina Morgana" Mainspring Press blog (April 20, 2018).
- ^ "Nina Morgana ('Little Patti', 'Baby Patti')" Pan-American Women exhibit, University at Buffalo Libraries.
- ^ a b "Nina Morgana, Singer, Toured with Caruso" New York Times (July 11, 1986): 18.
- Newspapers.com
- ^ a b c "Nina Morgana; Diva Who Sang with Caruso" Los Angeles Times (July 12, 1986).
- ^ Merton's correspondence with Dante J. Morgana, Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.
- ISBN 9781574670196
- ^ "'Earnest Work' – Nina Morgana's Slogan" Musical Courier (July 31, 1919): 12.
- Newspapers.com
- Newspapers.com
- ^ "Metropolitan Soprano Becomes Bride of Caruso's Secretary" Musical America (June 25, 1921): 3.
- ^ Viola Brothers Shore, "Nina Morgana, Successful Metropolitan Opera House Star" Musical Observer (July 1922): 4.
- ^ "Bruno Zirato, 88, Caruso Aide Who Headed Philharmonic, Dies" New York Times (November 30, 1972).
External links
- Nina Morgana Zirato's gravesite, on Find a Grave.
- Two 1920 recordings of Nina Morgana for the Victor Talking Machine Company; Discography of American Historical Recordings, University of California at Santa Barbara Libraries.
- A 1915 photograph of Nina Morgana, in the Bain News Service photograph collection, Library of Congress.
- A 1926 portrait of Nina Morgana by Nickolas Muray, from Condé Nast.
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