Enzo Sordello (20 April 1927 - 15 April 2008) was an Italian operatic baritone. [1] [2]
Enzo Sordello born in Pievebovigliana, he went on to study at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Turin and privately with Carlo Tagliabue. In 1952, he won the International Competition organized by the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, and began appearing there in small roles. He first won recognition when he sang the role of Cinna in Spontini's La vestale , opposite Maria Callas, in a production by Luchino Visconti.
This led to his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1956, as Marcello in La bohème , followed by Malatesta in Don Pasquale . He also sang Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor , opposite Maria Callas, who, rumour has it, had him fired after the performance for holding a note longer than hers. [3] [4]
He went on singing at most of the major opera houses of the world, notably, the Vienna State Opera, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Teatro Colón, as well as at the Glyndebourne Festival and Bregenz Festival. His sang in a wide variety of roles of the Italian and French repertoire, from baroque to contemporary works, but with a particular predilection for Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and the title-role in Rigoletto .
In 1961, he sang Filippo in Beatrice di Tenda in a concert version by the American Opera Society in New York City, opposite Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne.
Sordello retired from the stage in 1982. He lived in Roccavione where he died on April 15, 2008. [5]
Franco Corelli was an Italian tenor who had a major international opera career between 1951 and 1976. Associated in particular with the spinto and dramatic tenor roles of the Italian repertory, he was celebrated universally for his powerhouse voice, electrifying top notes, clear timbre, passionate singing and remarkable performances. Dubbed the "prince of tenors", audiences were enchanted by his handsome features and charismatic stage presence. He had a long and fruitful partnership with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City between 1961 and 1975. He also appeared on the stages of most of the major opera houses in Europe and with opera companies throughout North America.
Renata Tebaldi was an Italian lirico-spinto soprano popular in the post-war period, and especially prominent as one of the stars of La Scala, San Carlo and, especially, the Metropolitan Opera. Often considered among the great opera singers of the 20th century, she focused primarily on the verismo roles of the lyric and dramatic repertoires. Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini called her voice "la voce d'angelo", and La Scala music director Riccardo Muti called her "one of the greatest performers with one of the most extraordinary voices in the field of opera."
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Rolando Panerai was an Italian baritone, particularly associated with the Italian repertoire. He performed at La Scala in Milan, often alongside Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano. He was known for musical understanding, excellent diction and versatile acting in both drama and comic opera. Among his signature roles were Ford in Verdi's Falstaff and the title role of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi.
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