Vittorio Arimondi Collection
Finding aid created by Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library staff using RecordEXPRESS
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
2022
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Title: Vittorio Arimondi Collection
Dates: 1884-1954
Collection Number: 978.074
Creator/Collector:
Arimondi, Vittorio, 1861-1928
Extent: 2 Boxes. 0.5 linear feet.
Repository:
Museum of Performance and Design, Performing Arts Library
San Francisco, California 94124
Abstract: Vittorio Arimondi was an Italian operatic bass across Europe including with the Imperial Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia,
London, and Berlin. He also was a member of the Chicago Opera Company. He was well-known for roles such as Mephisto in “Faust”
and Marcel in “The Huguenots”. This collection is a record of Arimondi’s career. It includes personal correspondences, invitations,
announcements, photographs, drawings, and manuscripts. It also contains a scrapbook kept by Arimondi with press releases,
magazine articles, and watercolors by Arimondi.
Language of Material: English
Entire Collection is open for research.
Reproduction of these materials can occur only if the copying falls within the provisions of the doctrine of fair use. Copyright
varies by item.
[Identification of item]. Vittorio Arimondi Collection. Collection Number: 978.074. Museum of Performance and Design, Performing
Arts Library
The collection was purchased by SFMPD in April, 1978
Biography/Administrative History
Vittorio Arimondi, the famed Italian operatic bass, was born in Saluzzo, Turin, Italy in 1861. He sang in most of the great
cities of Europe, including five years with the Imperial Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the late 1800’s, London for
five seasons from, 1900-1905, and several seasons in Berlin. In 1910, he became a member of the Chicago Opera Company and
remained with them until 1918. After his retirement he and his wife, Aurelia, also an opera singer, taught singing at the
Chicago Musical College. He was a contemporary of Enrico Caruso and performed in several operas with him. Some of the roles
he was well-known for include Mephisto in “Faust” and Marcel in “The Huguenots”. He kept a scrapbook of his successes beginning
with his appearances during the 1898-99 season of the Grand Opera in Russia. Reviews of scores of his performances are represented
in several languages, including Italian, Russian, German, English, Romanian, and French. The scrapbook also has many photographs,
mostly from newspaper and magazine articles, of Arimondi and other well-known opera singers. In addition to his talent as
a singer, Arimondi was an accomplished watercolorist. Many pages of his scrapbook are illuminated by his wonderful paintings.
He often portrayed scenes from operasin which he was appearing and also painted the landscapes of the countries he was touring.
Scope and Content of Collection
This was the personal collection of Vittorio and Aurelia Arimondi, and serves as a record of Arimondi’s career for several
decades. It includes personal correspondences, invitations, announcements and photographs. There is also an oversized scrapbook,
kept by Arimondi, with press releases, magazine articles and excellent watercolors done by Arimondi. His scrapbook gives a
chronological listing of virtually all his public performances. The watercolors in the scrapbook are usually related to the
opera in which he was appearing. The collection contains more than 250 items, including an original drawing of Arimondi by
his celebrated contemporary, Enrico Caruso, a manuscript penned and autographed by Toscanini, and several signed photographs
of well-known opera singers. The collection also contains several letters and cards written to Arimondi and his wife, Aurelia,
by many of the most famous singers and musicians at the turn of the century.
Basses (Singers)
Opera
Caruso, Enrico, 1873-1921
Toscanini, Arturo, 1867-1957
Chicago Opera Company, Inc.
Imperial Theatre (Berlin, Germany)
Imperial Theatre (London, England)
Imperial Theatre (St. Petersburg, Russia)