Aurelia Kitzu Arimondi Explained

Aurelia Kitzu Arimondi
Birth Place:	Craiova, Romania
Death Date:	July 28, 1941
Death Place:	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other Names:	Aurelia Chițu
Occupation:	Opera singer, voice teacher
Spouse(S):	Vittorio Arimondi
Relatives:	Gheorghe Chițu (uncle)

Aurelia Kitzu Arimondi (1860s – July 28, 1941) was a Romanian-born opera singer and voice teacher in New York City and Chicago.

Early life and education

Kitzu was born in Craiova, Romania (some sources say Bucharest).^[1] Lawyer and politician Gheorghe Chițu was her uncle; her sister was educator Marie Kitzu Arnold.^[2] She trained as a singer at the Royal Conservatory Giuseppe Verde.^[3]

Career

Kitzu, a mezzo-soprano, sang in many European cities,^[4] especially at La Scala in Milan, and Covent Garden in London.^[5] She toured in South America in the 1890s, appearing at the Teatro Solís with José Oxilia.^[6] She made her New York debut in 1895, as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana.^[7] She sang at the Metropolitan Opera House^[8] and taught singing in New York City in the 1900s. "Madame Arimondi has the grace and culture of a true cosmopolitan," reported the Musical Courier in 1908.^[9]

Arimondi and her husband Vittorio Arimondi taught in Chicago in after 1916.^{[10] [11]} The Arimondis also produced a series of musicales featuring their students.^{[12] [13]} In 1925 they joined the faculty of the Chicago Musical College.^[14]

Personal life

Kitzu met Italian opera singer Vittorio Arimondi in South America; they married in 1896.^[15] They moved to Chicago in 1910. The Arimondis were featured on the cover of The Musical Leader in 1922, billed as "among the most successful teachers and artists of America."^[16] Her husband died in 1928,^[17] and she died in 1941, probably in her seventies, in Chicago.^[18]

Notes and References

1. Book: Who's who in Chicago . 1926 . A.N. Marquis & Company . 38 . en.
2. August 23, 1928 . Marie Kitzu Arnold . Musical Courier . 97 . 8 . 21 . Internet Archive.
3. News: 1941-07-29 . Aurelia Arimondi; Widow of Famous Italian Basso Appeared at Metropolitan . 2024-05-20 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
4. November 23, 1895 . The Coming Opera Season . Harper's Weekly . 39 . 2031 . 1115–1116 . Internet Archive.
5. Book: Wearing, J. P. . The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel . 2013-11-21 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-9282-8 . 209-211, 252-253, 257-258 . en.
6. Book: Salgado, Susana . The Teatro Solís: 150 Years of Opera, Concert and Ballet in Montevideo . 2003-07-22 . Wesleyan University Press . 978-0-8195-6594-5 . 71 . en.
7. Book: Brown, Thomas Allston . A History of the New York Stage from the First Performance in 1732 to 1901 . 1903 . Dodd, Mead . 464. en.
8. October 16, 1895 . Metropolitan Opera House . Freund's Musical Weekly . 11 . 10 . 3.
9. https://books.google.com/books?id=pS5MAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=Aurelia%20Kitzu&pg=RA16-PA30#v=onepage&q=Aurelia%20Kitzu&f=false "Madame Kitzu-Arimondi to Teach Singing"
10. August 24, 1916 . Mme. Kitzu-Arimondi to Teach Singing . Musical Courier . 73 . 8 . 18 . Internet Archive.
11. April 20, 1922 . Many Artistic Singers in Arimondi Studios . The Musical Leader . 43 . 16 . 378.
12. June 8, 1922 . Last Arimondi Musicale . The Musical Leader . 43 . 23 . 636.
13. June 1, 1922 . The Popular Arimondis . The Musical Leader . 43 . 22 . 602.
14. April 23, 1925 . The Arimondis at the Chicago Musical College . Musical Courier . 90 . 17 . 20 . Internet Archive.
15. April 4, 1908 . Wives of the Opera Stars . Musical America . 7 . 21 . 23 . Internet Archive.
16. April 20, 1922 . Mr. and Mrs. Vittorio Arimondi . The Musical Leader . 43 . 16 . cover.
17. News: 1928-06-10 . Untitled news item . 2024-05-21 . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . 49 . Newspapers.com.
18. News: 1941-07-29 . Aurelia Arimondi Dies; Former Opera Singer . 2024-05-21 . Evening star . 8 . Newspapers.com.