Kaschmann (Kasman), Giuseppe

views updated

Kaschmann (Kasman), Giuseppe

Kaschmann (Kasman), Giuseppe , Italian baritone; b. Lussimpiccolo, Istria, July 14, 1847; d. Rome, Feb. 7, 1925. He studied in Rome, making his operatic debut in Zagreb in 1869. He then sang the title role in Zajc’s Mislav at the opening of the Zagreb Opera on Oct. 2, 1870; made his first appearance in Italy in Turin as Alfonso in La Favorite in 1876, and subsequently sang at Milan’s La Scala in 1878. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor on Oct. 24, 1883, returning for the 1895-96 season. He first appeared at the Bayreuth Festivals in 1892. In later years he took on buffo roles, making his farewell to the stage in Rome in 1921. His finest roles included Don Giovanni, Amfortas, Wotan, Telramund, Kurwenal, Dr. Bartolo, and Don Pasquale.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire