Recognized as one of the greatest glories in operatic world, Alejandro Granda Relayza, son of Mr. Vicente Granda and Ms. Teresa Relayza was born in November 26, 1898 at Puno Street, in Callao.
The most remarkable Peruvian tenor from the first half of this century was, until 25 years, a modest operator at the Peruvian Steamship company, where occasionally delighted passengers with his warm voice. His repertoire was a Tenore di forza, interpreting the most notable operas from Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni, Ponchielli among other composers.
Alejandro Granda motivated and prepared by a great entertainer from our musical medium, Ms. Rosa Mercedes Ayarza de Morales, conquered opera lovers, since his first debut in Lima and shortly thereafter, President Leguía sent him to Italy to improve his abilities with master musicians Alfredo Cecchi and Arnaldo de Marzi.
In 1924 started his studies at the Giuseppe Verdi Musical Conservatory in Milan, continuing them with Master Alfredo Cecchi. In 1927 debuted in Sociale di Como with the opera “Iris” by Mascagni. Success was immediate: In 1928 the great director Arturo Toscanini chose him for the world debut of “Hungarian Psalms from Zoltán Kodaly “ at the Scala, shortly thereafter “Tosca” by Puccini and “Rigoletto” by Verdi with Carlo Galeffi and “Toti Dal Monte” in “Rigoletto” by Verdi, again under Toscanini direction.
With increasing success he presented in Genoa, Naples, Venice, Palermo, Bologna and then in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Egypt, Chile and USA.
He worked at the Scala de Milan until middle 40’s; the most important theatres from America and Europe, everyone, surrendered to the sublime art from Granda. Triumphantly came to Lima in 1932. Returned in 1946 to give incredible recitals in Municipal and Segura theatres of Lima and at Comedy Theater of Callao.
His beautiful voice permitted him to sing along with imperishable singers as Ricardo Stracciari, Bianca Scacciatti, Apollo Granforte, Ebe Stignani, Roseta Pampanini, Gianna Pederzzini, Gina Cigna, Maria Caniglia, Tito Gobbi, Licia Albanese, Renata Tebldi, Magda Olivero, Carlo Galeffi and Lily Pons, among other great opera interpreters. “Tosca”, “Andrea Chenier” “Caballeria Rusticana” “The Traviata”, “The Boheme” “Master singers of Nüremberg” and modern operas that also interpreted at La Scala, were part from his vast repertoire.
In 1939, Italian Government gave him the title to “Order of The Crown of Italy” and in 1947 Peruvian Government gives “Order of the Sun of Peru”. Retired from interpreting music in 1952, in the Habana, Cuba to devote himself entirely to teaching of singing. In 1947 he had set up and academy in Hollywood in which Mario Lanza and Manolo Alvarez Mera were one of his remarkable students.
At the end of 50’s, he was teacher at the Mexican Fine Arts Conservatory. There he had as student the tenor Julio Julián. In 1960 he tries, with no success, bring him to Peru as teacher in the National Musical Conservatory. Two years later he could achieve such yearning. The other, to create a National Opera School could not achieve it, just before his death due a stroke. Briefly held a tenure as a singing teacher in National School of Music. Death catches him at September 3, 1962.