Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

March 20, 1890 in Recanati, Italy

Death

:

November 30, 1957 in Rome, Italy

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Beniamino Gigli was an Italian tenor who was born on March 20, 1890, in Recanati, Italy. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up in a musical family. His father, Lorenzo Gigli, was a carpenter and amateur musician, while his mother, Anna, was a seamstress who sang in the local church choir. From a young age, Gigli showed a natural talent for singing and began performing in local choirs and at church services. In 1906, at the age of 16, Gigli moved to Rome to pursue a career in music. He studied at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and made his operatic debut in 1914 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, singing the role of Enzo in Amilcare Ponchielli's La Gioconda. His performance was well-received, and he quickly became a sought-after tenor in Italy. Gigli's breakthrough came in 1918 when he was invited to sing the role of Rodolfo in Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. His performance was a huge success, and he was hailed as the new star of Italian opera. He went on to perform at all the major opera houses in Italy, including the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the Teatro Regio in Turin, and the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. In 1920, Gigli made his debut at the Royal Opera House in London, singing the role of Faust in Charles Gounod's Faust. His performance was a sensation, and he was invited back to London every year for the next decade. He also made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1920, singing the role of the Duke of Mantua in Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto. He went on to become a regular performer at the Met, singing in over 500 performances over the course of his career. Gigli's voice was known for its warmth, beauty, and clarity. He had a natural gift for phrasing and was able to convey emotion through his singing. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the music of Puccini, Verdi, and Giuseppe Martucci. He was also a popular recording artist, making over 200 recordings during his career. In 1932, Gigli was awarded the title of Commendatore dell'Ordine della Corona d'Italia, one of Italy's highest honors. He was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1955. In 1957, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in recognition of his contributions to Italian music. Gigli retired from the stage in 1955, but continued to teach and mentor young singers. He died on November 30, 1957, in Rome, Italy, at the age of 67. He was mourned by fans and colleagues around the world, and his legacy as one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century lives on.

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