Beniamino Gigli
Advertisement
Advertisement
Top Related Artists
Biography
Considered by opera lovers to be one of Italy's finest tenors, Beniamino Gigli's rise to fame in the world of opera came about during a period when the world was embroiled in the horrors of the First World War. After winning an internationl singing competition in Parma in 1914 he made his operatic debut at the age of 24 playing Enzo in Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda'. From there he performed in 'Mefistofele' and gradually climbed the operatic ladder performing the work at key venues in Palermo, Naples, Rome and Milan before making his international debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1920.
After the death of Enrico Caruso in 1921 Gigli rose to prominence as one of Italy's leading tenors and was often referred to as Caruso Secondo - the second Caruso. After a disagreement with the Metropolitan Opera management regarding pay Gigli returned to Italy and began to perform throughout Europe. He became one of Mussolini's favourite performers, something the singer received much criticism for, and recorded 'Giovinezza', the official hymn of the Italian Fascist party. The unsavoury connection with Italy's dictator did little to harm the singer's popularity with the public however, and after the end of World War Two the public demand for Gigli was greater than ever.
Prior to his retirement in 1955 Gigli undertook a major international concert tour which left him exhausted and in poor health; he never fully recovered and died in 1957 aged 67.
Read All
Read Less
Albums
Beniamino Gigli
The Beniamino Gigli Collection, Vol. 2: Italian Songs, Vol. 1 [Remastered 2014]
FEATURED
Beniamino Gigli
The Beniamino Gigli Collection, Vol. 3 (Verdi Arias & Scenes) [Remastered 2014]
FEATURED
Beniamino Gigli
The Beniamino Gigli Collection, Vol. 4 (Verismo Arias & Scenes) [Remastered 2014]
FEATURED
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Mattinata Veneziana
- Andrea Chénier: Act III, "Nemico della Patria?!"
- Faust, Act III: Quel trouble inconnu... Salut, demeure
- Lucia di Lammermoor: Chi mi frena? (Recorded 1927) featuring Louise Homer
- Non Ti Scordar Di Me
- Notte A Venezia
- Santa Lucia Luntana
- La paloma
- Pagliacci, ACT 2: Suvvia, così terrible (Nedda/Canio/Beppe/Tonio/Silvio/Coro) featuring Beniamino Gigli
- Pagliacci, ACT 2: Coraggio! Un uomo era con te (Canio/Nedda/Tonio) featuring Beniamino Gigli
- Xerxes: Largo
- Pagliacci, ACT 2: No, Pagliaccio non son (Canio/Coro/Silvio/Nedda) featuring Beniamino Gigli
- Golden Voice Series No. 5: Rachell Quand Du Seigneur
- Golden Voice Series No. 5: Il Mio Tesoro
- La Canzone Dell'Amore
- Andrea Chénier: Act III, "Lacrime e sangue da la Francia!"
- Andrea Chénier: Act III, "Dumouriez traditore e giacobino"
- Rondine Al Nido
- Voce 'e notte
- Maria Mari
- Lucia Luci
- Dicitencello Vuje by Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
- Cavalleria Rusticana, Act I: "Tu qui, Santuzza - No, no Turiddu" featuring Philharmonic Orchestra
- Manon, Act II: Instant charmant... En fermant les yeux
