Angelo Gobbato A Passion for Opera

Summary

A Passion for opera is a memoir of Angelo Gobbato's life-long involvement and engagement in opera. In this book made up of various forms of memories, the author traces his involvement and deep love for opera from his childhood up to when he retired from actively engaging and participating in multiple roles and activities in opera. For Gobbato, opera is in his genes: part of his DNA. It is quite interesting the way he attempts to explain where his talents and skills of opera came from. He cheekily notes that it must have come from the genes of his maternal grandfather. He muses:

Although my only physical memory of my maternal grandfather (and my namesake), Angelo Meazza, is centred on a striking photographic portrait in a black oval frame of a strong face with trimmed dark moustache, many anecdotes were passed on to me[,] his wife and his only daughter.

Born in Milan, he was renowned for his great sense of humour, and frequently entertained his friends with renditions of comic theatrical sketches such as ‘II sciur pastissa’ and ‘Tecoppa’ – then made famous by the great Milanese dialect. Although he died at an early, truck down with bronchitis – all too common in those days – it is surely his genetic influence that has given me my theatrical sense of fun and my comfortable ease in performing operatic comic characters. (Gobbato 16–17)

Gobbato started showing his passion for music and singing when he was three years old. He was born in Italy but moved to South Africa together with his mother to join his father who had settled earlier in search of opportunities. Gobbato studied sciences at the University of Cape Town and graduated with Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. But paradoxically, though he performed very well in the sciences and was awarded a scholarship to study Chemistry at postgraduate level, he opted instead to pursue his passion: music; and more specifically opera. According to Gobbato, opera was more than just a brand of specialised vocal music but one of theatrical performance with strongly characterised physical interpretations. Gobbato pursued opera music with frenzied obsession throughout his life.