Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

April 8, 1921 in Ancona, Italy

Death

:

October 29, 2003 in Milan, Italy

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

Franco Corelli was a renowned Italian tenor who was born on April 8, 1921, in Ancona, Italy. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of modest means. His father was a shipbuilder, and his mother was a homemaker. Corelli's love for music began at an early age, and he started singing in the church choir when he was just six years old. Corelli's talent was recognized by his music teacher, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He began studying at the Pesaro Conservatory when he was 16 years old, and he made his operatic debut in 1951 in Spoleto, Italy. He quickly gained a reputation as one of the most promising young tenors in Italy, and he was soon invited to perform in some of the country's most prestigious opera houses. In 1954, Corelli made his debut at La Scala in Milan, one of the world's most famous opera houses. He sang the role of Don José in Bizet's Carmen, and his performance was a huge success. He was praised for his powerful voice, his dramatic intensity, and his commanding stage presence. He quickly became one of La Scala's most popular singers, and he went on to perform there many times over the course of his career. Corelli's international career began in 1956, when he made his debut at the Royal Opera House in London. He sang the role of Radamès in Verdi's Aida, and his performance was a sensation. He was praised for his "golden voice" and his "heroic presence," and he quickly became one of the most sought-after tenors in the world. Over the next few years, Corelli performed in many of the world's most famous opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Paris Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. He sang a wide range of roles, from the romantic leads in operas like La Bohème and Tosca to the heroic tenor roles in operas like Aida and Otello. Corelli was known for his powerful voice, which had a distinctive, ringing quality that was often compared to a trumpet. He was also known for his dramatic intensity, his impeccable phrasing, and his ability to convey emotion through his singing. He was a consummate performer, and he was known for his commanding stage presence and his ability to hold an audience in the palm of his hand. Corelli's career was not without its controversies, however. He was known for his temperamental personality, and he had a reputation for being difficult to work with. He was also criticized for his tendency to "oversing," or to push his voice beyond its limits in order to achieve a dramatic effect. Some critics felt that this tendency detracted from the beauty of his voice and the subtlety of his phrasing. Despite these criticisms, Corelli remained one of the most popular and respected tenors of his time. He won many awards and honors over the course of his career, including the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity. Corelli retired from the stage in 1976, at the age of 55. He continued to teach and to give master classes, however, and he remained an important figure in the world of opera until his death in 2003. He was remembered as one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century, and his recordings continue to be treasured by opera lovers around the world.

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