Giuseppe di Stefano Italian tenor Date of Birth: 24.07.1921 Country: Italy

1. Giuseppe di Stefano: Italian Opera Tenor
2. Early Life
3. International Success
4. Vocal Mastery
5. Decline and Accolades
6. Collaboration with Maria Callas
7. Later Years and Passing

Giuseppe di Stefano: Italian Opera Tenor

Giuseppe di Stefano was an Italian opera tenor who sang professionally from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. He gained international fame for the extraordinary beauty of his voice, earning him the nickname "Golden Voice" or "Most Beautiful Voice," and was regarded as the successor to Beniamino Gigli. Di Stefano was also known for his extensive experience in performance, recordings, and even a brief romance with renowned soprano Maria Callas.

Early Life

Giuseppe di Stefano was born in Motta Sant'Anastasia, a small village near Catania, Sicily. He was the only son of a former carabinieri, who later became a shoemaker, and his wife, a seamstress. Di Stefano studied at a Jesuit seminary and seriously considered becoming a priest. After serving in the Italian armed forces, he made his operatic debut in 1946 in the renowned Reggio Emilia, performing in Jules Massenet's "Manon." The following year, he made his debut at La Scala, once again in the same role.

International Success

Di Stefano's incredible vocal beauty quickly caught the attention of the international opera community. He was soon invited to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. His debut in New York took place in 1948, where he shone as the Duke of Mantua in Verdi's "Rigoletto." From then on, Di Stefano regularly performed in New York. In 1957, he made his first appearance in the United Kingdom at the Edinburgh Festival, portraying Nemorino in Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore." Four years later, he captivated the audience at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden as Cavaradossi in Puccini's "Tosca."

Vocal Mastery

Di Stefano was highly regarded for his excellent diction, unique voice filled with genuine passion, and his sweet, soft singing style. During his radio broadcast debut with the Metropolitan Opera in a production of Gounod's "Faust," he hit the highest note of "C" in fortissimo and then softened it to pianissimo. Sir Rudolf Bing, the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, later stated in his memoirs that it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard from a human being.

Decline and Accolades

Unfortunately, the heavy roles that di Stefano took on in the 1950s did not suit his lyrical tenor voice, and his vocal abilities gradually declined. By the mid-1960s, he was on the verge of retiring from opera. Throughout his years of international fame, di Stefano earned numerous awards, including the Golden Orpheus, an Italian music award equivalent to an Oscar.

Collaboration with Maria Callas

In 1953, Walter Legge, the leader of the classical division of HMV Studio, decided to find a talented tenor and record a series of popular Italian operas with him and Maria Callas. Eventually, di Stefano was chosen for this project. Although Callas and di Stefano did not perform together frequently, their live recording of Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera" at La Scala demonstrates their exceptional collaboration. Di Stefano continued to perform with Callas on several occasions, and there were rumors of a brief romantic involvement between them.

Later Years and Passing

In November 2004, di Stefano was attacked by unknown assailants near his home in Diani Beach. The attackers intercepted him by his car as he was about to drive to their villa with his wife. He spent a week in a coma and underwent multiple surgeries. In December 2007, di Stefano was admitted to the San Raffaele Clinic in Milan, where doctors attempted to help him, but he slipped into a coma. On March 3, 2008, the tenor passed away in his home in Santa Maria Hoe.