Cesare Bardelli Italian opera singer-baritone Date of Birth: 25.12.1910 Country: Italy

Biography of Cesare Bardelli

Cesare Bardelli, an Italian opera singer-baritone, was born on December 25, 1910, in Sampierdarena, a district in Genoa known for its industrial and less prosperous conditions. Despite being born into a family with a father who worked as a station master at the city railway station, Bardelli took great pride in his Pisan heritage from both his mother and father's side.

In his youth, Bardelli possessed a pleasant tenor voice and began studying music and vocal art under the guidance of maestro Barsanti and maestro Pizzi. He later continued his studies in Milan under the renowned baritone Carlo Tagliabue. In New York, he received vocal training from the unforgettable Daniele Serra.

In 1937, Bardelli made a highly successful debut in Alessandria, Piedmont, where he performed the role of Amonasro in "Aida." This performance was followed by his appearances in Alessandria, Egypt, where he portrayed Amonasro in "Aida" and Scarpia in "Tosca." The role of Scarpia would become one of his signature roles, with Bardelli performing it nearly a thousand times throughout his 43-year career. He gained the reputation of being the world's best Scarpia after the great Antonio Scotti. Additionally, his repertoire included roles such as Escamillo in "Carmen," Giorgio Germont in "La Traviata," Tonio in "Pagliacci," Iago in "Otello," as well as baritone roles in "Fedora," "La Forza del Destino," "Rigoletto," "Salome," "Tristan und Isolde," "Il Trovatore," "Lucia di Lammermoor," "Barber of Seville," "Andrea Chenier," and many others.

In 1979, still in excellent vocal form, Bardelli decided to retire from performing. Many young artists sought his guidance and requested vocal lessons at the "New York City Studio." In addition to his exceptional opera students, Bardelli also trained other artists. One of his famous students was the Hollywood actor Paul Sorvino, father of Mira Sorvino.

After retiring, Bardelli and his wife Lina moved to Vercelli, Italy, where their only daughter Vera currently resides with her family. In 1980, Professor Joseph Robbone asked Bardelli to join the "Società del Quartetto" in Vercelli as a vocal teacher and offered him a position on the board of the "Concorso Internazionale di Musica G.B.Viotti of Vercelli."

Cesare Bardelli passed away in Milan on December 23, 2000, just two days before his 90th birthday.