Ettore Bastianini |

Ettore Bastianini

Born in Siena, studied with Gaetano Vanni. He began his singing career as a bass, making his debut in 1945 in Ravenna as Collin (Puccini’s La bohème). For six years he performed bass parts: Don Basilio in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Timur in Puccini’s Turandot and others. Since 1948 he has been performing at La Scala.

In 1952, Bastianini performed for the first time as a baritone in the part of Germont (Bologna). Since 1952, he often performed at the Florentine Musical May festival in the roles of the Russian repertoire (Tomsky, Yeletsky, Mazepa, Andrey Bolkonsky). In 1953 he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Germont. He performed at La Scala (1954) the part of Eugene Onegin, in 1958 he performed with Callas in Bellini’s The Pirate. From 1962 he sang in Covent Garden, he also sang at the Salzburg Festival, in the Arena di Verona.

Critics called the singer’s voice “fiery”, “the voice of bronze and velvet” – a bright, juicy baritone, sonorous in the upper register, thick and rich in basses.

Bastianini was an excellent performer of Verdi’s dramatic roles – Count di Luna (“Il Trovatore”), Renato (“Un ballo in maschera”, Don Carlos (“Force of Destiny”), Rodrigo (“Don Carlos”). He performed with equal success in operas by composers -verists. Among the parties are also Figaro, Barnabas in Ponchielli’s Gioconda, Gerard in Giordano’s Andre Chenier, Escamillo and others. performed by Bastianini, was the part of Rodrigo on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.

Ettore Bastianini is one of the outstanding singers of the middle of the XNUMXth century. Recordings include Figaro (conductor Erede, Decca), Rodrigo (conductor Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon), Gerard (conductor Gavazzeni, Decca).