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Antonio Vicente <I>Felippe</I> Celestino

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Antonio Vicente Felippe Celestino

Birth
Death
23 Aug 1968 (aged 73)
Burial
Botafogo, Município de Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Vicente Celestino was born on September 12, 1894, at Paraiso Street, Santa Teresa, in Rio de Janeiro.When he was 8 years old he started his artistic career. Owner of an extraordinary voice, he was constantly called for singing at churches' ceremonies and at social parties and clubs. He earned nothing from his shows but compliments, applause and snacks.Little by little the young Celestino was becoming famous in the neighborhood. His repertory already included parts of operas, waltzes, songs, sacred music, etc.His powerful and beautiful voice gave the songs a new dressing because of his interpretation. He was applauded by all those who heard him. He attended every Lyrical company that came to Brazil. His idol was Enrico Caruso.At 18 he began to sing at the then called "Chopes", and at 20 he was introduced professionally at the São José Theater. There the attendance came to delirium, when he sang the famous "Flor do Mal" (Flower of Evil), that was also his first recording in 1916. For the thousands of records he sold, he received ten thousand "réis".People adored that handsome and simple young man who was entirely dedicated to his singings. Vicente Celestino sang with his soul and heart without holding back the gift that God had provided him with: his precious voice. Young people that had applauded him years earlier have thought their children, and later their grandchildren to love the man who proudly had sung for four generations.Vicente starred in two films: "O Ebrio" and "Coração Materno".Once an important businessman of that time, Walter Mochi, heard him singing and immediately decided to take him to Europe to introduce him as one of the major dramatic tenors of the world. But Vicente did not accept, saying that he would never leave his country, Brazil, refusing the invitation. He wanted to sing to his people. Few would resisted to the temptationVicente Celestino was a happy man. He had been singing uninterruptedly for 65 years. He was an authentic national glory. He was named well deservedly the voice "pride of Brazil". He composed several songs that made great successes: "O Ebrio": "Coração Materno"."Patativa' "Serenata': "Ouvindo-te' and many others. He received many homages in life and during 33 (thirty-three) years was under contract with RCA-Victor producing hundreds of records. Antonio Vicente Felippe Celestino(Vicente Celestino) was now singing for the fourth generation. The last time he sang was during a rehearsal before 200 people, in São Paulo, on the sad afternoon of August 23, 1968: artists, musicians and singers were rehearsing for a show that would be recorded at 11 PM . According to colleagues, that night he sang "Mande uma Flor de Saudade" (Lyrics by M. Ghiaroni and music by V. Celestino) as he never had before. But that was to be the swan song of the most applauded and yet misunderstood voice of the Brazilian singers. That night, at 10:30 PM, the “voice pride of Brazil" silenced forever, whispering his last words: "please don't let me die..." (Wolney Porto - Productor of Events).
Vicente Celestino was born on September 12, 1894, at Paraiso Street, Santa Teresa, in Rio de Janeiro.When he was 8 years old he started his artistic career. Owner of an extraordinary voice, he was constantly called for singing at churches' ceremonies and at social parties and clubs. He earned nothing from his shows but compliments, applause and snacks.Little by little the young Celestino was becoming famous in the neighborhood. His repertory already included parts of operas, waltzes, songs, sacred music, etc.His powerful and beautiful voice gave the songs a new dressing because of his interpretation. He was applauded by all those who heard him. He attended every Lyrical company that came to Brazil. His idol was Enrico Caruso.At 18 he began to sing at the then called "Chopes", and at 20 he was introduced professionally at the São José Theater. There the attendance came to delirium, when he sang the famous "Flor do Mal" (Flower of Evil), that was also his first recording in 1916. For the thousands of records he sold, he received ten thousand "réis".People adored that handsome and simple young man who was entirely dedicated to his singings. Vicente Celestino sang with his soul and heart without holding back the gift that God had provided him with: his precious voice. Young people that had applauded him years earlier have thought their children, and later their grandchildren to love the man who proudly had sung for four generations.Vicente starred in two films: "O Ebrio" and "Coração Materno".Once an important businessman of that time, Walter Mochi, heard him singing and immediately decided to take him to Europe to introduce him as one of the major dramatic tenors of the world. But Vicente did not accept, saying that he would never leave his country, Brazil, refusing the invitation. He wanted to sing to his people. Few would resisted to the temptationVicente Celestino was a happy man. He had been singing uninterruptedly for 65 years. He was an authentic national glory. He was named well deservedly the voice "pride of Brazil". He composed several songs that made great successes: "O Ebrio": "Coração Materno"."Patativa' "Serenata': "Ouvindo-te' and many others. He received many homages in life and during 33 (thirty-three) years was under contract with RCA-Victor producing hundreds of records. Antonio Vicente Felippe Celestino(Vicente Celestino) was now singing for the fourth generation. The last time he sang was during a rehearsal before 200 people, in São Paulo, on the sad afternoon of August 23, 1968: artists, musicians and singers were rehearsing for a show that would be recorded at 11 PM . According to colleagues, that night he sang "Mande uma Flor de Saudade" (Lyrics by M. Ghiaroni and music by V. Celestino) as he never had before. But that was to be the swan song of the most applauded and yet misunderstood voice of the Brazilian singers. That night, at 10:30 PM, the “voice pride of Brazil" silenced forever, whispering his last words: "please don't let me die..." (Wolney Porto - Productor of Events).

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  • Created by: Nivas Larsan
  • Added: Jan 25, 2006
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13124476/antonio_vicente-celestino: accessed ), memorial page for Antonio Vicente Felippe Celestino (12 Sep 1894–23 Aug 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 13124476, citing Cemitério de São João Batista, Botafogo, Município de Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Maintained by Nivas Larsan (contributor 46822211).