Description

LUIGI INFANTINO (RACALMUTO, 24 APRIL, 1921 – ROME, 22 JUNE, 1991)

As a boy, he was introduced to music and learned to play the flute, joining the town band. In 1937, he began studying singing, but soon stopped after winning a competition to join the Royal Navy band in La Spezia as a flutist. He resumed his vocal studies during World War II at the Parma Conservatory under Italo Brancucci. In 1943, he made his debut at the Teatro Regio in La Bohème.

In 1945, he reprised his role as Rodolfo at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples and, following a tour with the Neapolitan theater, made his debut at the Royal Opera House in London the following year with Rigoletto, also performing La Bohème. After regular performances in Naples and Bologna, he was engaged as a guest artist at the New York City Opera in 1947, where he performed in La Traviata, Rigoletto, Madama Butterfly, La Bohème, The Barber of Seville, and Don Giovanni.

In 1948, he made an important debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in I Pescatori di Perle, followed by La Cenerentola, which he also performed that year at the Arena di Verona. He held a series of concerts in England and Australia in 1949. In 1953, he appeared at the Helsinki Opera and, in 1954, at the Fenice in Venice in Lucia di Lammermoor, alongside Maria Callas.

He created the title roles in Mario Zafred’s Hamlet and Franco Mannino’s La Stirpe di Davide at the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome in 1961 and 1962. In 1964, he reprised the role of Edgardo at the Bombay Opera. He also frequently sang in RAI radio productions, making his final performance in Mannino’s Il Diavolo in Giardino in 1973.

He was married to actress Sarah Ferrati, with whom he had a daughter.

TRACKLIST

1. A Vucchella (Tosti) LB74 CA 20737 Columbia
2. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) All’idea di quel metallo… Dunque All’ opra (w. Silveri) LX1157, LX1157, CAX10375-1, CAX10376-1, Columbia, 1948-11-25
3. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Ecco ridente LCX138 CAX10236 Columbia, 1948-04-16
4. Dicitencello vuje (Falvo-Tusco) LX1213 CAX10226 Columbia, 1948-04-14
5. Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima GQX110 CBX1551 Columbia, Milano
6. La danza (Rossini) LB137 CA22085 Columbia, 1952
7. La fiera di mast’Andrea (de Meglio, arr. Infantino) LB127 CA 22084-2 Columbia
8. Marechiare (Tosti) LB123 CA22086-2 Columbia, 1952
9. Milena LB74 CA20738 Columbia, 1948-04-16
10. Ninna nanna siciliana LB71 CA20753 Columbia, 1948-05-01
11. Passione (Bovio) LB123 CA22087 Columbia, 1952
12. Reginella (Bovio – Lama) LB127 CA 22103-1B Columbia
13. Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna è mobile DB2269 CA20191-1 Columbia, 1946-09-27
14. Rigoletto (Verdi) Questa o quella DB2269 CA20190-1 Columbia, 1946-09-27
15. Rondini al nido (de Crescenzo) DB2335 CA20192-1 Columbia, 1946-09-28
16. Santa Lucia (Cottrau) LB71 CA20739 Columbia, 1948-04-16
17. Serenata a Mariuzza (de Luca) LB137 CA22104-2A Columbia, 1952-02-28
18. Sunnanne a pusilleco (Costanzo-Campese) DB2314 CA 20194-1 Columbia
19. Torna a Surriento (de Curtis) 17570-D CA20195-2 Columbia