Luigi Infantino
Encyclopedia
Luigi Infantino was an Italian operatic tenor
, particularly associated with the lyric Italian and French repertories.
Luigi Infantino studied at the Parma Conservatory with Italo Brancucci
. He made his debut in 1943, at the Teatro Regio in Parma, as Rodolfo in La bohème
, which was also his debut role at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, in 1945. With that company, he appeared in London as the Duke in Rigoletto
, and Rodolfo.
In 1948, he made his debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, as Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles
, later singing Ramiro in La cenerentola
, which he also sang that same year at the Verona Arena
.
The tenor sang regularly in Naples and Bologna, and made guest appearances at the New York City Opera
in 1947: La traviata (with Enzo Mascherini
as Giorgio), Rigoletto (opposite Giuseppe Valdengo
and Virginia MacWatters
), Madama Butterfly, La bohème, Il barbiere di Siviglia (conducted by Julius Rudel
) and Don Giovanni. In 1949, the tenor went on a concert-tour of England and Australia.
In 1954, at the Teatro Fenice in Venice, Infantino sang Edgardo to the Lucia of Maria Callas
, in Lucia di Lammermoor. At the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
, he created Amleto, by Mario Zefred, in 1961, and La stirpe di Davide by Franco Mannino, in 1962.
In 1964 Infantino reprised his role of Edgardo at the Bombay Opera in India, with soprano Celia Baptista as his Lucia.
He was also active throughout his career singing on Italian Radio (RAI
), where he gave his last performance in 1973, in Mannino's Il diavolo in giardino.
A stylish lyric tenor with an attractive voice, Infantino can be heard in complete recordings of La traviata
(EMI
, 1946) and Il barbiere di Siviglia (Cetra, 1950, opposite Giuseppe Taddei
and Giulietta Simionato
). There is also a live recording of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
, sung in Italian (Melodram, 1962).
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, particularly associated with the lyric Italian and French repertories.
Luigi Infantino studied at the Parma Conservatory with Italo Brancucci
Italo Brancucci
Italo Brancucci was an Italian composer and singing teacher. He taught at the Parma Conservatory for many years. Several of his pupils went on to have major opera careers, including Luigi Infantino, Rinaldo Pelizzoni, Elvina Ramella, Ferruccio Tagliavini, and Renata Tebaldi...
. He made his debut in 1943, at the Teatro Regio in Parma, as Rodolfo in La bohème
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
, which was also his debut role at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, in 1945. With that company, he appeared in London as the Duke in Rigoletto
Rigoletto
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
, and Rodolfo.
In 1948, he made his debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, as Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles
Les pêcheurs de perles
Les pêcheurs de perles is an opera in three acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, to a libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré. It was first performed on 30 September 1863 at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris, and was given 18 performances in its initial run...
, later singing Ramiro in La cenerentola
La Cenerentola
La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, based on the fairy tale Cinderella...
, which he also sang that same year at the Verona Arena
Verona Arena
The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra in Verona, Italy, which is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind....
.
The tenor sang regularly in Naples and Bologna, and made guest appearances at the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
in 1947: La traviata (with Enzo Mascherini
Enzo Mascherini
Enzo Mascherini was an Italian operatic baritone, one of the leading baritones of his generation....
as Giorgio), Rigoletto (opposite Giuseppe Valdengo
Giuseppe Valdengo
Giuseppe Valdengo was an Italian operatic baritone. Opera News said that, "Although his timbre lacked the innate beauty of some of his baritone contemporaries, Valdengo's performances were invariably satisfying — bold and assured in attack but scrupulously musical."-Biography:Valdengo first...
and Virginia MacWatters
Virginia MacWatters
Virginia MacWatters was an acclaimed American coloratura soprano.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, MacWatters studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, and sang 611 Broadway performances of Adele in Rosalinda , conducted by Erich Korngold, from 1942 to 1944...
), Madama Butterfly, La bohème, Il barbiere di Siviglia (conducted by Julius Rudel
Julius Rudel
Julius Rudel is an American opera and orchestra conductor who emigrated to the United States from Austria at the age of 17 and studied conducting at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. He then forged a 35-year career with the New York City Opera, from 1944 to 1979, and was the Music...
) and Don Giovanni. In 1949, the tenor went on a concert-tour of England and Australia.
In 1954, at the Teatro Fenice in Venice, Infantino sang Edgardo to the Lucia of Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
, in Lucia di Lammermoor. At the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre, it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements...
, he created Amleto, by Mario Zefred, in 1961, and La stirpe di Davide by Franco Mannino, in 1962.
In 1964 Infantino reprised his role of Edgardo at the Bombay Opera in India, with soprano Celia Baptista as his Lucia.
He was also active throughout his career singing on Italian Radio (RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
), where he gave his last performance in 1973, in Mannino's Il diavolo in giardino.
A stylish lyric tenor with an attractive voice, Infantino can be heard in complete recordings of La traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
(EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, 1946) and Il barbiere di Siviglia (Cetra, 1950, opposite Giuseppe Taddei
Giuseppe Taddei
Giuseppe Taddei was an Italian baritone, who performed mostly the operas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Giuseppe Verdi....
and Giulietta Simionato
Giulietta Simionato
Giulietta Simionato was an Italian mezzo-soprano. Her career spanned from the 1930s until her retirement in 1966.-Life:Born at Forlì, Romagna, she studied in Rovigo and Padua, and made her operatic debut at Montagnana in 1928...
). There is also a live recording of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. It is among the longest operas still commonly performed today, usually taking around four and a half hours. It was first performed at the Königliches Hof- und National-Theater in Munich, on June 21,...
, sung in Italian (Melodram, 1962).