Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) as Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera I Pagliacci
Figurine
1982 (manufactured)
1982 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, born Errico Caruso in 1873 in Naples, received little education but studied music briefly with Vincenzo Lombardini and made his operatic debut on March 15, 1895 at the Teatro Nuovo, a back street theatre in Naples. After two years singing on the South Italian circuit he auditioned for Giacomo Puccini in the summer of 1897 when Puccini was looking for a leading tenor for a performance of La Boheme in Livorno, and who, on hearing him reportedly exclaimed: 'Who has sent you to me? God?'
He went on to perform at all the major Italian opera houses and then became an international star. He debuted at the Covent Garden Opera in Verdi's Rigoletto. He made his debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in November 1903 and performed there for the next eighteen seasons, making 607 appearances in 37 different operatic productions.
He went on to perform at all the major Italian opera houses and then became an international star. He debuted at the Covent Garden Opera in Verdi's Rigoletto. He made his debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in November 1903 and performed there for the next eighteen seasons, making 607 appearances in 37 different operatic productions.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) as Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera <i>I Pagliacci</i> |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Glazed porcelain figurine of Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) as Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera I Pagliacci. Hutschenreuther Factory, 1982 |
| Physical description | Glazed porcelain figurine representing Enrico Caruso as Canio in Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera I Pagliacci standing and leaning with his left arm on a large drum, his right hand held high, holding a detachable drumstick. He wears a white clown's coat and trousers, a white ruff at his neck and a conical hat. The base bears the marker's mark in black for the Hutschenreuther Factory, after 1970, a facsimile of the signature of the designer Hans Schiziger, the number of the edition ........, and a label printed Lorenz Hutschenreuther Kunstabeilung, with the handwritten number ............ |
| Marks and inscriptions | The base bears the marker's backstamp in black (a lion within an oval over the number 1814), the Hutschenreuther Factory's mark after 1970; a facsimile of the signature of the designer Hans Schiziger; the number of the edition ....... , and a label printed Lorenz Hutschenreuther Kunstabeilung, with the handwritten number ........ |
| Credit line | Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A |
| Summary | The Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, born Errico Caruso in 1873 in Naples, received little education but studied music briefly with Vincenzo Lombardini and made his operatic debut on March 15, 1895 at the Teatro Nuovo, a back street theatre in Naples. After two years singing on the South Italian circuit he auditioned for Giacomo Puccini in the summer of 1897 when Puccini was looking for a leading tenor for a performance of La Boheme in Livorno, and who, on hearing him reportedly exclaimed: 'Who has sent you to me? God?' He went on to perform at all the major Italian opera houses and then became an international star. He debuted at the Covent Garden Opera in Verdi's Rigoletto. He made his debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in November 1903 and performed there for the next eighteen seasons, making 607 appearances in 37 different operatic productions. |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1660-2014 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 29, 2014 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
