Alessandro Bonci

Alessandro Bonci ( born February 10, 1870 in Cesena, † August 10 1940 in Viserba in Rimini, Italy ) was an Italian tenor.

Life

After his vocal studies at the Conservatory in Pesaro at Felice Coen and subsequently with Enrico Delle sedation in Paris, he made ​​his debut in 1896 at the Teatro Regio of Parma as Fenton in "Falstaff" by Verdi. Early on, the singer, specializing in the bel canto repertoire ( Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini ). In 1897 he joined the first time at La Scala in Milan. This was followed by guest appearances in St. Petersburg, Vienna, Berlin, Lisbon and Madrid. From 1900 to 1908 he enjoyed great success at Covent Garden Opera London. In between, in 1906, he sang in the opening performance of the newly formed Manhattan Opera Arturo in "I Puritani ." A year later he moved to the Metropolitan Opera ( first role was the Duke in "Rigoletto" ) and remained until 1910 a member of this opera house.

During World War II, he interrupted his career and served voluntarily in the Italian Air Force. After 1918, he took his career back on successfully until 1923 his active career ended. From 1923 to 1925 he was a singing teacher in New York and then returned to his native Italy, where he completely retired until his death from public life.

Alessandro Bonci was next to the Irish tenor John McCormack as the biggest rival of the great Enrico Caruso. In contrast to the Neapolitans Bonci had a helltimbrierte, slender voice. He was an ideal Tenore di Grazia This special vocal quality and his superior mastery of vocal technique. Many of his records are still regarded among connoisseurs as teaching pieces for singing in the bel canto style. The well-known English song expert John Steane says Bonci due to its records to the " finest lyric tenor of the century".

43925
de