Enrico Caruso (1906)

Enrico Caruso (1873-1921). The first superstar of the record met Francesco Bongiovanni in Bologna in 1906.

Carlo Zangarini (1906)

Carlo Zangarini (1873-1943) had provided the libretti for La Fanciulla del West, Zazà and I Gioielli della Madonna as well as a large number of poems put to music by composers published by Bongiovanni.

Ferruccio Busoni (1906)

Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) dedicated this picture to Francesco Bongiovanni, probably in occasion of his last concert in Bologna in spring 1906.

Ottorino Respighi (1911)

Ottorino Respigh'si (1879-1936) career started with Bongiovanni. We published his first songs, among them the famous "Nebbie" who brought him to worldwide fame.

Enrico Mainardi (1911)

Enrico Mainardi (1897-1976) made his first appearances in Bologna alongside Ottorino Respighi in 1911 when he was introduced to the Bongiovanni circle. He remained a life long friend.

Giacomo Puccini (1921)

This picture was signed in occasion of a performance on Puccini’s own Trittico at the Comunale di Bologna on October 27, 1921.

Francesco Balilla Pratella (1923)

Francesco Balilla Pratella (1880-1955) was one of the inventors of futurist music. With Bongiovanni, he published, among others, over 30 songs, theoretical and philosophical writings and his musical manifesto, “Musica Futurista".

Ildebrando Pizzetti (1925)

Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880-1968) was one of the most important figures of the “Generazione dell’80” and was, like the others belonging to that group – Malipiero, Respighi and Casella – part of the Bongiovanni circle.

Lina Bruna Rasa (1931)

Lina Bruna Rasa (1907-1984). Lyric soprano especially appreciated by Mascagni and Refice.

Gilda dalla Rizza (1932)

Gilda dalla Rizza (1892-1975) was one of the most important Italian sopranos of the 20th century, creator of Puccini’s Rondine and, by Puccini’s own words, the perfect Fanciulla del West.

Mafalda Favero (1937)

Mafalda Favero (1905-1981). Lyric soprano of international reputation, was trained in Bologna. In 1937, she sang at the Comunale (Mefistofele with Pasero and Lugo) and dedicated this Baccarini photograph to Francesco Bongiovanni.

Mercedes Capsir (1937)

Mercedes Capsir (1895-1969) made her debut in Bologna – a theater to which she returned throughout her career. She was a favorite of Toscanini's and regarded as one of the best light lyric sopranos of her time.

Francesco Balilla Pratella (1939)

Francesco Balilla Pratella (1880-1955) was one of the inventors of futurist music. With Bongiovanni, he published, among others, over 30 songs, theoretical and philosophical writings and his musical manifesto, “Musica Futurista".

Alfredo Casella (1938) 

Alfredo Casella (1883-1947) was one of the leading figures of the music life in Italy during the 1930s and 1940s. He belonged to the circles of Respighi, Pizzetti and Malipiero (“Generazione dell’80”) who were all published by Bongiovanni.

Giuseppe Lugo (1939)

Giuseppe Lugo (1899-1980). n November 1939, the tenor was in Bologna to sing at the Comunale: Turandot with Eva Turner and Rigoletto with Armando Borgioli. And that’s probably when he dedicated this photograph to Francesco Bongiovanni.

Maria Caniglia (1941)

Maria Caniglia (1905-1979), one of the most appreciated sopranos of the 1940s was a recurrent guest at the Comunale. In February 1941, she sang a concert with Gino Bechi and Gino Marinuzzi and dedicated this photograph to Francesco Bongiovanni.

Tito Schipa (1941)

Tito Schipa (1888-1965) – by many considered to be the best tenore di grazia in the history of singing. Some of his recordings are even today regarded as insuperable reference recordings.

Francesco Molinari Pradelli (1946)

Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (1911-1996). The year 1946 was Molinari-Pradelli’s breakthrough. Originally from Bologna, he made his debut at La Scala to become one of the most important opera conductors worldwide.

Franz von Hoesslin (1946)

Franz von Hoesslin (1885-1946). Despite being exiled from Nazi-Germany, von Hoesslin was invited multiple times to conduct in Bayreuth by personal request of Winifred Wagner. Other than that, he lived and worked in Italy where he, among other things, promoted the music of Gian Francesco Malipiero.

Licinio Refice (1952)

Licinio Refice (1883-1954). The great composer of Cecilia and reformer of sacred music in Italy in the 20th century to Francesco Bongiovanni.

Enrico Mainardi (ca. 1960)

Enrico Mainardi made his first appearances in Bologna alongside Ottorino Respighi in 1911 when he was introduced to the Bongiovanni circle. He remained a life long friend.

Francesco Merli (ca. 1960)

Francesco Merli (1887-1976). The world famous dramatic tenor befriended Giancarlo Bongiovanni after his career was long over. This picture was signed some time in the 1960s – showing Merli in a production of Otello from the 1930s.

Bruno Prevedi (1971)

Bruno Prevedi (1928-1988), Italian tenor. He was the tenor who travelled with La Scala to Moscow in 1964 to appear in the Russian premiere of Turandot alongside Birgit Nilsson and Mirella Freni.

Karlheinz Stockhausen (1976)

Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007) conducted some of his own works at the Comunale in November 1976 and presented some of his records at our shop.

Luciano Pavarott (1976)

Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) visited us gladly and often. Back in 1979 we released a live recital with him and Katia Ricciarelli – as well as a disc where he and Mirella Freni are giving a masterclass in singing

Riccardo Muti (1977)

Conductor Riccardo Muti (1941) during an autograph session in our shop. On the table one can see a copy of his then new recording of Verdi's Nabucco.

Gianni Raimondi (1984)

Gianni Raimondi (1923-2008). The Bolognese tenor has been a long term-friend of Giancarlo Bongiovanni and has visited the shop on multiple occasions.

Guiseppe Giacomini (ca.1990)

Bongiovanni has recorded and issued several discs of this great tenor of our times.

Magda Olivero (1999)

Magda Olivero (1910-2014). Our relationship with Magda Olivero was very special. In 1993 (she was 83) we recorded her last Adriana Lecouvreur, creating a unique document of her art and her devotion to the art of singing.

Daniele Barioni (2002)

Daniele Barioni (1930). Always with a smile on his face and a bolo tie around his neck, the Ferrarese tenor has been a regular visitor and long time friend.