Ettore Panizza (12 August 1875 - 27 December 1967) was an Argentinian conductor and composer, one of the leading conductors of the early 20th century.

A native of Buenos Aires, Panizza studied first with his father, who was a cellist at the Teatro Colón, and later in Milan. He made his debut as assistant conductor at the Rome Opera in 1897.

He was closely associated with La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. He also made guest appearances in Vienna, Berlin, etc.

Although not usually credited, he was the first to conduct Puccini's Turandot with the ending by Franco Alfano. The world premiere at La Scala on 25 April 1926 was conducted by Arturo Toscanini, who stopped at the point where Puccini had ceased writing before his death. Panizza conducted the second and later performances of the work as completed by Alfano.^[1]

Among the many creations he conducted are Francesca da Rimini by Riccardo Zandonai, Sly by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, and The Island God by Gian Carlo Menotti. He also conducted many local premieres in London, New York, and Milan such as Khovanshchina and La campana sommersa. He worked with singers such as Alessandro Bonci, Enrico Caruso, Nellie Melba, Rosa Ponselle, Ezio Pinza, and Beniamino Gigli.

Panizza also composed four operas; Il fidanzato del mare (1897), Madioevo Latino (1900), Aurora (1908), his most successful work, and Bizanzio (1939).

He published his autobiography Medio Siglo de Vida Musical in 1952. Panizza died in Buenos Aires in 1967.

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

• R. Mancini and J-J. Rouvereux, ed (1986). Le guide de l'opéra. Fayard. ISBN 2-213-01563-6.