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Miguel Fleta

Miguel Burro Fleta (28 December 1897, in Albalate de Cinca, Province of Huesca, Aragon – 29 May 1938, in A Coruña) was a Spanish operatic lyric tenor.

Despite his short stage career, lasting from 1919 to 1935, Fleta has been described as one of the most significant Iberian opera singers of the 20th century. Among the important international venues at which he sang were La Scala, Milan, (in 1923-26) and the New York Metropolitan Opera (in 1923-25). Additionally, in 1926, he had the honour of creating the role of Calaf in Puccini's posthumously-premiered final opera, Turandot, at the insistence of La Scala's principal conductor, Arturo Toscanini. But this taxing dramatic role took him to the limit of his resources and he did not attempt it again.

Fleta made his operatic debut in Trieste in 1919, having previously studied voice at the Madrid conservatory. Successful engagements in Rome followed, leading to his La Scala and Met debuts. He quit the Met in acrimonious circumstances, however, and the resultant legal action stopped him performing again in the United States.

He was celebrated during his best years for the finesse with which he used his rich, flexible voice. The most notable aspect of his performance style was the nimbleness of his bel canto technique. This enabled him to produce spectacular messa di voce and pianissimo effects. Unfortunately, Fleta's singing became increasingly self-indulgent as his career progressed. By the late 1920s, as recordings show, his voice had deteriorated badly, with his vibrato loosening to an undesirable extent.

Fleta died in straitened circumstances in 1938. He nonetheless left a legacy of sometimes fascinating records, many of which are available on CD reissues.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1, 1897 (Albalate de Cinca), Died May 29, 1938 (A Coruña)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1933

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 35 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-29265 10-in. 1/9/1924 E lucevan le stelle Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-29266 10-in. 1/9/1924 La donna è mobile Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-29267 10-in. 1/9/1924 ¡Adiós trigueña! Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-29284 10-in. 1/14/1924 Mi tierra Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with violin, flute, and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor C-29285 12-in. 1/14/1924 Duetto delle ciliege Lucrezia Bori ; Miguel Fleta Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with piano and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor C-29286 12-in. 1/14/1924 Parle-moi de ma mère Lucrezia Bori ; Miguel Fleta Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with piano, harp, and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-31577 10-in. 1/6/1925 Amapola Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor B-31578 10-in. 1/6/1925 Bimba, non t'avvicinar Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BE388 10-in. 4/14/1922 Te quiero Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BE389 10-in. 4/14/1922 E lucevan le stelle Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone CE391 12-in. 4/17/1922 Ay, ay, ay Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone CE392 12-in. 4/17/1922 Il fior che avevi a me tu dato Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone CE393 12-in. 4/17/1922 Giulietta, son io Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 0J545 10-in. 7/2/1932 Tus ojos mi miráron Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra, including celeste and piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 0J581 10-in. 7/8/1932 Era una noche de luna Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BJ593 10-in. 3/8/1927 El huésped del sevillano : Canción Miguel Fleta ; Concordio Gelabert Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BJ594 10-in. 3/8/1927 El huésped del sevillano : Romanza Miguel Fleta ; Concordio Gelabert Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BJ606 10-in. 3/12/1927 Salida de Jorge Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BJ617 10-in. 3/17/1927 Salida de Jorge Miguel Fleta Tenor vocal solo, with chorus, soloists, and orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 0J1169 10-in. 12/15/1933 Nana – Dios te lo pague, Maja Pilara Miguel Fleta ; Pablo Luna Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 0J1171 10-in. 12/15/1933 Romanza de Miguelón Miguel Fleta ; Pablo Luna Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra (rondalla) vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone CJ1234 12-in. 2/15/1928 No sabes tú que yo tenía Miguel Fleta ; Matilde Revenga ; Emilio Sagi-Barba Vocal trio (soprano, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone CJ1235 12-in. 2/15/1928 Tú que lo sabes ... En las alas del deseo Miguel Fleta ; Matilde Revenga ; Emilio Sagi-Barba Vocal trio (soprano, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BS1247 10-in. 4/5/1924 Calle Mayor de Jaca Miguel Fleta ; Rondalla Ramirez Tenor vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone BS1248 10-in. 4/5/1924 Si fuera un aeroplano Miguel Fleta ; Rondalla Ramirez Tenor vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, tenor vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 35 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Fleta, Miguel," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105084.

Fleta, Miguel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105084.

"Fleta, Miguel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105084

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