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[edit]
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[edit]
During her vocal training in Italy, Teresa Arkel recommended her to conductor Tullio Serafin for the small role of the Forest Bird in a production of Siegfried at the Teatro Dal Verme. She appeared in the premiere of Der Rosenkavalier at La Scala in 1911.[3] From 1917 to 1920, Morgana appeared frequently with Caruso during his North American concert tours.[3] She was with the Chicago Opera in the 1919–1920 season.[9][10] She sang with the Metropolitan Opera from 1920 to 1935, making her debut as Gilda in Rigoletto.[7] Her other best-known roles at the Met included Amina in La Sonnambula, Nedda in Pagliacci, Musetta in La bohème, and Micaela in Carmen.[3] She also appeared in concert and gave live radio recitals during the 1920s.[11]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ "Nina Morgana" Pan-American Exposition 1901 (University at Buffalo Libraries).
- ^ "Nina Morgana, Opera Star, Comes Home to Buffalo After Triumph on Stage" Buffalo Courier (May 18, 1924): 89. via 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.
- ^ "A Prima Donna at 20" San Francisco Call (April 13, 1913): 6. via 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.
- ^ James A. Drake, Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography (Hal Leonard Corporation 1997): 201-206. ISBN 9781574670196
- ^ "'Earnest Work' – Nina Morgana's Slogan" Musical Courier (July 31, 1919): 12.
- ^ "Atwater Kent Guest Artists on Air Tonight" Decatur Herald (January 13, 1929): 13. via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Nina Morgana Avers Film Hurt Name; Seeks $25,000" Daily News (January 25, 1926): 6. via 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[edit]
- 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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