Gigli, Beniamino, << GEE lyee, bay nyah MEE noh >> (1890-1957), was a famous Italian opera singer. Gigli was noted for the sweet, mellow quality of his tenor voice (often called his “golden tone”), but he could also sing with great power. He appeared in many operas and also performed in films and concerts. He won acclaim for his performances as Rodolfo in La Boheme, the Duke of Manta in Rigoletto, and Cavardossi in Tosca.
Gigli was born on March 20, 1890, in Recanati, near Ancona, central Italy. After studying singing in Rome, Gigli won a singing contest in Parma in 1914. In the same year, he made his operatic debut at Rovigo in La Gioconda. His fame grew rapidly. After singing in Spain and South America, he joined the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City in 1920, where he sang until 1932 and again in 1938, 1939, and 1946. He made his London debut at Covent Garden Opera House in 1930 and made appearances in Australia and Germany. He died in Rome on Nov. 30, 1957.
