Achille De Bassini

Achille De Bassini (actually Achille Bassi ) ( born May 5, 1819 in Milan, † July 3, 1881 in Cava di Tirreni ) was an Italian baritone.

Born the son of a Theatergardrobier he enjoyed an excellent education. At the same time he studied with N. Perelli singing and debuted early in Bergamo. It is not certain whether he is identical to a Bassi, who appeared in Voghera in Donizetti and Bellini's Norma Belisarius, 1837. In the following years he was a busy singer on the Italian opera stages. Was very well known, the Verdi greatly appreciated singer by the interpretation of Verdi roles. He portrayed at the premieres:

• I due Foscari ( 1844), the Francesco Foscari
• Il Corsaro the (1848 ) the Pasha Silk
• Luisa Miller (1849 ), the Miller
• La forza del destino (1862 ) Fra Melitone. This role has Verdi written specifically for De Bassini, because he recognized to embody comic roles his ability.

1845 and 1854 he was a guest on Kärntnertortheater in Vienna, where he also received the title of kk chamber singer. 1852-1853 and 1862-1863 he sang in St. Petersburg, in 1859 he made his debut at Covent Garden. From his contemporaries he was " the second Giorgio Ronconi " called. His brilliant, expressive voice, his great vocal range secure him a place among the great baritones of the Verdi type in the history of opera De Bassini married in 1845, the soprano Rita Gabussi whose common son Alberto was also an opera singer, first tenor, later a baritone. With nearly fifty years, De Bassini withdrew from the stage, but stepped on the occasion of the debut of his son Alberto in 1869 together with this. However unfortunate speculation forced him to sing almost to his death. He spent his last years in Portici.