Nicola D'Amico

IL MAESTRO, NICOLA D'AMICO

Nicola D'Amico was a reknown opera singer, opera coach, conductor, composer and empresario. He was born in Palermo, Sicilia into a
large family.

From 1920 to 1929, Maestro D'Amico held the position of
Primo Baritono of the San Carlo Opera Company in New York.

He married Teresa Tirelli on February 14, 1928 in New York City.
They had 4 Children: Yolanda Margherita D'Amico,
Beatrice D'Amico, Elvira D'Amico and Nicola Marcello D'Amico
(Nick D'Amico) .

In 1944, The family (Nicola,Teresa, Yolanda, Beatrice and Elvira
moved to California where The Maestro and his wife, Teresa,
started their own radio program, The Italian Novelties Hour
on AM radio station KWKW, while at the same time stage
operatic reviews during the season at The Wilshire Ebell
Theatre on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. These weekly concerts
during the season were called "Italian Novelties"[cit]
The entire family would perform on the weekly radio program
and, when little Nicky D'Amico (Nicola Marcello) was 7 years
old, he joined the family on the airwaves. This went on every
Sunday morning for over 20 years.

Maestro D'Amico and the family lived in Los Angeles after WWII
and his brothers eventually all would live not far away from each other
in Southern California.

During the 1920's, Maestro D'Amico enjoyed having a music studio
in Manhattan, where he would write music, teach and prepare
scores for the Opera Company, owned and run by Fortuno Gallo.
D'Amico would take trips with the company to various US cities and
the company became well known as a traveling ensemble, with
Mo. D'Amico as the lead Baritono. He also worked as the
accompanist for the singers at rehearsals and would teach the
singers and coach them in their operatic roles. He was a dear
friend of Tito Schipa, who introduced him to many other opera
stars whenever they would be performing in New York.

Meanwhile, the family lived in Brooklyn, where it was less
expensive to raise a family. His wife, Teresa would also work to
become a gifted coloratura. The Maestro found the time to
manage his wife's career as well, which would ultimately work
against Teresa's success, as she debuted with the famed
Metropolitan Opera, asking for unreasonble amounts of
money and compensation for a new-comer to the world
of professional opera. She would go on to do many
concerts with Arturo Toscanini, which the Maestro would
record on a record maker he had hooked up to the radio in
his studio.