Beniamino Gigli was an Italian tenor who is best known for his beautiful voice and performances at prestigious opera houses around the world. He became famous for his roles in operas and for his recordings that brought classical music to many audiences. Gigli’s career spanned several decades, making him one of the most admired tenors of the 20th century.
Personal and Family Life
Beniamino Gigli was born in Recanati, Italy, on March 20, 1890, into a family that struggled financially. He was married to Costanza Cerroni from October 4, 1915, and they had two children before they divorced. Later in life, Gigli had another family with Lucia Vigarani, with whom he had three additional children, although the exact number of his children is unclear.
Career Highlights
Gigli made his operatic debut on October 15, 1914, in “La Gioconda” and quickly rose to fame, earning the title of the World’s Greatest Tenor. He performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York for 12 consecutive years, beginning in 1920. His popularity soared in the 1920s and 1930s, although he faced controversy due to associations with Hitler and Mussolini, which he later addressed in his autobiography. Despite facing challenges, Gigli enjoyed critical and commercial success throughout his lengthy career.
Death and Legacy
Beniamino Gigli passed away from heart disease in Rome on November 30, 1957, at the age of 67. His contributions to opera and classical music have left a lasting impact, and he is remembered as one of the great tenors of his time. After a remarkable career that lasted nearly 41 years, his legacy continues to inspire new generations of singers.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Mutterlied | 1937-12-21 | Ettore Vanni |
| Forget Me Not | 1936-12-01 | Enzo Curti |
| Taxi di notte | 1950-09-09 | Nello Spadoni |
| Traummusik | 1940-10-25 | er selbst |
| Vertigine | 1942-03-10 | Il tenore Luciano Riccardi |
| Silenzio, si gira! | 1943-10-02 | Il tenore Massimo Giuliani / Antonio, il sosia ladruncolo |
| Mamma | 1941-12-16 | Mario Sarni |
| I pagliacci | 1943-01-23 | Il tenore Morelli |
| Du bist mein Glück | 1936-10-06 | Mario Monti |
| Die Stimme des Herzens | 1937-03-27 | Gino Mari |
| Der singende Tor | 1939-12-22 | Carlo Franchetti |
| Lache Bajazzo | 1943-05-28 | Morelli |
| Vergiß mein nicht | 1935-10-23 | Enzo Curti – tenor Scala of Milano |
| Giuseppe Verdi | 1938-08-01 | Il tenore Mirate |
| Marionette | 1939-01-26 | Mario Rossi |
| Ave Maria | 1936-01-04 | Tino Dossi |
| The Art of Singing: Golden Voices of the Century | 1998-03-25 | |
| Gigli: Ridi Pagliaccio | 1941-01-01 | |
| Dir gehört mein Herz | 1938-11-22 | Mario Rossi |
| Ritorno | 1940-10-10 | Il cantante |
| Soho Conspiracy | 1950-10-01 | Beniamino Gigli |
| Voglio bene soltanto a te! | 1946-11-12 | Enzo Curti |
| Solo per te | 1938-01-01 | Ettore Vanni |
| Non Ti Scordar Di Me | 1935-01-01 | Enzo Curtis, Tenor |