Chronology

“Days, months, years go by. New cities, new countries, new people follow one another. New roles enter his repertoire; new vocal images are forged; new artistic trials await him every season and every year the singer-actor treads unknown stages in the most diverse theaters of the world. He always returns home with victory, victory sometimes paid dearly. The soul is consumed with nervous tension, treasures of energy and spiritual strength are wasted.”
(Alexandra Buschen, preface to the Russian edition of My Parabola)

The chronology of Titta Ruffo’s artistic career was first published in the reissue of the autobiography My Parabola on the occasion of the centenary of her birth in 1977, revised on the occasion of the publication of the volume My Parabola – Supplement 1984, then followed by new contributions during the 1990s. The version we present here incorporates the latest updates in our possession and, at the moment, we believe that it may represent the most complete and faithful account of his intense theatrical activity, beginning with his debut at the Costanzi in Rome on April 9, 1898 and ending with his last public performance in Hamlet at the Casino de la Jetée-Promenade in Nice on March 10, 1934.

Legend
Places and dates of performances, opera titles and names of principal co-interpreters are specified in order: sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, tenors, baritones, basses and conductors. The theaters and other venues where the artist sang are given according to the name of the time and in the original language with the exception of Egyptian and Russian theaters. Operas in which she first performed a role are made explicit debut. In round brackets ( ) after the title of the opera the ascertained number of performances is indicated.