Hipólito Lázaro

Who was Hipólito Lázaro?

Hipólito Lázaro was a Spanish/Catalan opera singer. Lázaro was born in Barcelona, Spain.

His professional debut was in 1910 at Teatre Novedades in Barcelona, in La favorite. His Italian debut came late 1910 in Rigoletto at the Teatro Tosi-Borghi in Ferrara. During the summer of 1911 he appeared in a series of concerts held in England as Antonio Manuele.

Lázaro created the tenor roles of Mascagni's Parisina and Il piccolo Marat, and Romani's Fedra. While in Philadelphia in 1924, he received a letter from Umberto Giordano who was working on his next opera, La cena delle beffe, asking him to create the tenor role. The premiere was held in December 1924 at La Scala with Lázaro, under the baton of Toscanini. His career was based on verismo roles, Verdi, Carmen, some bel canto roles and Spanish zarzuela.

He had a "wide-ranging, timbred, considerably vibrant, extended, bold, resilient even if slightly guttural voice" with a brilliant metallic shine, and a passionate approach to singing. When he sang at the Metropolitan Opera House he was overshadowed by Caruso to whom he was compared. He also maintained a strong rivalry with Miguel Fleta.