Home > Beniamino Gigli

Gigli was born in Recanati near Ancona, the son of a shoe-maker and an opera buff.

In 1914, Gigli won first prize in an international singing competition in Parma. His operatic debut came on October 15, 1914 when he played Enzo in Amilcare Ponchielli's La Gioconda in Rovigo, following which he was in great demand. The following year he sang Faust in Arrigo BoitoArrigo Boito ( February 4, 1842 June 10, 1918) was an Italian poet, novelist and composer, best known today for his opera libretti and his own opera, Mefistofele''. Born in Padua, Boito studied music at the Milan Conservatoire. The premiere of his only fi's MefistofeleMefistofele is the only completed opera by the Italian composer Arrigo Boito. It was premiered on March 5, 1868 at La Scala, Milan, and remains a popular work today. Mefistofele is one of many pieces of classical music to be based on the Faust legend. in NaplesAlternate uses: See Naples (disambiguation Naples ( Italian Napoli Neapolitan Napule from Greek Neapolis/) is the largest town in southern Italy, capital of the region of Campania. The city has a population of about 1 million, and together with its suburb, a role he would sing many more times.

Gigli made his debut at the Metropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is located at Lincoln Center in New York, New York. It was founded in April, 1880. The first Metropolitan Opera House opened on October 23, 1883, and was located between 39th and 40th Street on Broadway. The original Metropolitan Op in New York CitySkyline, with Statue of Liberty New York, New York" redirects here. For alternate meanings, see New York, New York (disambiguation). New York — officially named City of New York and often called New York City to distinguish it from the state of New York, on November 26November 26 is the 330th day (331st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 35 days remaining. Events 1778 In the Hawaiian Islands, Captain James Cook becomes the first European to discover Maui. 1805 Official opening of Thomas Tel, 19201920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. January 9 Britain announces it will build 100,000 homes for war veterans. January 10 Leagu, again in Mefistofele. Other roles he became particularly associated with included Rodolfo in Giacomo PucciniGiacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini ( December 22, 1858 November 29, 1924) is regarded as one of the great operatic composers of the late 19th and early 20th century. Life Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy into a family with a long histo's La Bohème and the title role in Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chénier , which he also recorded in full.

Gigli filled the void left by the untimely death of Enrico Caruso in 1921, quickly becoming the most famous Italian tenor in the world. He was often called, "Caruso Secondo," though he much preferred to be known as "Gigli Primo."

Gigli left the Met in 1932 after refusing to take a pay cut. He returned again to Italy, and sang in houses there, elsewhere in Europe and in South America. He was criticized for being a favourite singer of Benito Mussolini, but this did him no lasting damage, and, after retiring from public performance in World War II, he returned successfully to performing in 1945.

In the last few years of his life, Gigli gave concert performances more often than he appeared on stage. Upon his retirement in 1955, Gigli spent the remaining two years of his life writing his Memoirs. He died in Rome in 1957. There is no question that for over thirty years, Gigli reigned as the most famous and beloved tenor in the world.