Piero Cappuccilli Italian opera singer, baritone Date of Birth: 09.11.1929 Country: Italy

Biography of Piero Cappuccilli

Piero Cappuccilli, an Italian opera singer, was born in 1929 in Trieste, Italy, into a family of a naval officer. From a young age, his father instilled in him a passion for the sea, which later became his favorite hobby - motor boating. Despite initially considering a career in architecture, Piero's musical abilities became evident, and he developed a deep passion for singing. Thankfully, his father fully supported his son's choice.

Piero studied under the legendary Luciano Donaggio in his hometown and made his debut in 1957 at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan, portraying the role of Tonio in "Pagliacci." Before that, he had already performed in smaller roles, but "Pagliacci" marked his true professional debut. This successful start was followed by performances in "La traviata" at the Metropolitan Opera in 1960 and a highly acclaimed performance at La Scala.

Cappuccilli's baritone voice was rich and noble, often described as having a "beautiful and masculine timbre." He effortlessly reached high notes, allowing him to excel in dramatic baritone roles in Donizetti and Verdi operas. Piero performed seventeen roles by Verdi, spanning different periods of the composer's work, including "Attila," "Don Carlo," "Macbeth," "Otello," "Simon Boccanegra," and "Rigoletto," among others.

Known for his exceptional diction, thoughtful phrasing, and excellent legato, Piero Cappuccilli quickly gained a reputation as one of the best Verdi baritones of the 20th century. He never faded into the background, as his performances always brought him to the forefront, accompanied by ecstatic ovations from the audience. Additionally, he had a remarkable stage presence, charisma, and a brilliant sense of humor.

In addition to Verdi operas, which comprised a significant portion of his repertoire, Cappuccilli also enjoyed performing other roles that suited his vocal nature. He sang Escamillo in "Carmen," Scarpia in "Tosca," Ernesto in "Il Pirata," Enrico in "Lucia di Lammermoor," and Gellner in "La Wally," among others. He was a favorite baritone of conductors Claudio Abbado and Herbert von Karajan. For 20 years, Cappuccilli had no rivals at La Scala, where he was adored by the audience.

Unfortunately, his career was tragically interrupted. In late August 1992, Piero Cappuccilli was involved in a car accident near Bergamo while heading towards Monte Carlo. He suffered a severe head injury but was expected to recover. However, he remained in a semi-conscious state for a long time and only fully regained consciousness a year later. Sadly, he was unable to return to the stage. Instead, Cappuccilli became a vocal teacher, which he pursued for thirteen years before his death.

Piero Cappuccilli passed away on July 11, 2005, at the age of 78, in his hometown of Trieste. He left behind a legacy as a legend and a true master of opera, known for his elegance, vocal technique, and vivid interpretations.