Mona Modini Bonelli

Biography / Administrative History

Baritone Richard Bonelli was born Richard Bunn in Port Byron, New York on Feb. 2, 1889. His voice teachers were Arthur Alexander in Los Angeles, and Jean de Reszke and William Valonat in Paris. His operatic debut was as Valentin in Gounod's Faust at the Brooklyn Academy in 1915. From 1922-24 he toured the U.S. with the San Carlo opera company. After touring in Europe with the Max Sauter Company in 1925, he was engaged at the Theatre Gaite Lyrique in Paris. That same year he was to join the Chicago Opera Company, remaining there until 1931. Between 1926 and 1942 he was a frequent guest at the San Francisco Opera, and was also a member of the Metropolitan Opera from 1932-45. After retiring from the stage he dedicated himself to voice pedagogy and was a much-appreciated teacher. He taught at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and at the Music Academy of the West. Richard Bonelli died in Los Angeles on June 7, 1980.