Ettore Bastianini

about

Ettore Bastianini (September 24, 1922–January 25, 1967) was an Italian opera singer who began his professional career as a bass, then earned worldwide acclaim as a baritone, particularly in Verdi roles, before dying of throat cancer at the age of forty-four. Born in Siena, he began his public singing career as a boy soprano with that city’s Coro della Metropolitana, performing at such events as the annual Palio. His teacher was Gaetano Vanni. After serving in the Italian Air Force toward the end of World War II, Bastianini began his professional career. On January 28, 1945, he made his debut as a soloist in a concert at the Teatro Rex in Siena, singing the bass arias "Vecchia zimarra" from Puccini’s La bohème and "La Calunnia" from Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia. In November of that year, he made his operatic debut as Colline in La bohème at Ravenna. On April 24, 1948, Bastianini made his La Scala debut as Teiresias in Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex. For the next three years he sang in a variety of bass roles throughout Italy, as well as in Cairo, Alexandria, and Caracas. In April of 1951, at Turin’s Teatro Alfieri, he sang his last performance as a bass, in the same role with which he had begun his operatic career–Colline. Believing that his voice was suited to the baritone repertoire, and encouraged by his teacher, Luciano Bettarini, Bastianini left the stage for seven months to work on his technique. He made his debut as a baritone on January 17, 1952, in Siena, as Germont

top songs

albums

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Famous Italian Baritones Of The Past ( Vol. 2 )

Verdi: Il Trovatore

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Puccini: La Bohème

A Life In Opera: Rossini, Donizetti, Ponchielli, Verdi

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Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata

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Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor

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Ettore Bastianini Recital (Remastered)

Ettore Bastianini: A Discographic Career (Recorded 1955-1962)

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Verdi - La Traviata

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Bastianini - A Life in Opera: Rossini, Donizetti, Ponchielli, Verdi

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La Bohème (plus five bonus Puccini arias)

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Rigoletto

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